Michigan’s auto industry could find a new source of jobs and investment in the global defense boom. As Ford and GM adapt commercial pickups for military use, Michigan’s vast network of auto suppliers could have an even bigger opportunity — building the electronics, components and technology that turn everyday trucks into battlefield vehicles.
DETROIT — Michigan’s auto industry could find a new source of jobs, factory investment and supplier business in an unexpected place: the rapidly expanding global defense industry.
Ford and General Motors are pursuing new military contracts while defense contractors search for factories, suppliers and skilled workers capable of increasing production.
For Michigan, the opportunity could extend far beyond the Detroit Three. Companies already producing precision components, electronics, vehicle systems, robotics and other automotive technologies could potentially compete for defense work.
The question is whether Michigan can convert its enormous automotive manufacturing infrastructure into a bigger share of the defense boom — creating new jobs while protecting others threatened by changes sweeping through the auto industry.
Ford And GM Chase British Military Contract
Ford and GM are among automakers pursuing Britain’s Light Mobility Vehicle program, which is designed to replace aging military Land Rovers.
Ford has teamed with General Dynamics Land Systems-UK and engineering company Ricardo. Its proposal uses the Ford Ranger and heavier Ranger Super Duty as the foundation for military vehicles.
GM Defense, BAE Systems and NP Aerospace formed Team LionStrike, offering vehicles derived from Chevrolet’s Silverado and Colorado platforms.
The concept is straightforward: rather than designing every military vehicle from scratch, start with trucks already engineered and manufactured commercially and modify them for battlefield requirements.
That can potentially reduce development costs while tapping existing automotive factories, technology and supply chains.
Turning A Pickup Into A Military Vehicle
A military Ranger or Silverado isn’t simply a dealership pickup painted camouflage.
Depending on its mission, a commercial vehicle can require stronger suspension and chassis components, greater payload capacity, specialized tires, upgraded electrical systems, communications and navigation equipment, additional electrical power, recovery equipment and military electronics.
Some versions can require armor or other protective systems.
Ford’s British team is proposing both 4×4 and 6×6 configurations. General Dynamics would handle defense-system integration and military conversion while Ricardo provides specialized engineering.
GM’s approach similarly uses commercially developed Chevrolet vehicles as the foundation for different military configurations.
That distinction matters to Michigan.
The automaker may manufacture the underlying vehicle, but potentially numerous suppliers can participate in turning that truck into military equipment.
For Michigan’s auto industry, the economic opportunity therefore isn’t simply winning a vehicle assembly contract. It’s potentially winning engineering, electronics, machining, mobility, communications and systems-integration work surrounding each vehicle.
The British contract itself, however, emphasizes British manufacturing and employment. It should be viewed as an example of the commercial-to-military business model rather than evidence that this particular contract will produce large numbers of Michigan jobs.
GM Defense Is Growing
GM already has a substantial defense operation headquartered in Warren.
GM Defense expects approximately $700 million in revenue this year and anticipates annual growth of about 30% for several years.
That’s still tiny compared with GM’s overall automotive business.
But defense work could have a much larger impact on individual suppliers.
For a corporation the size of GM, a $20 million or $50 million contract may barely move the financial needle.
For a Michigan supplier employing 100 or 500 workers, the same contract could support new equipment, additional shifts and jobs.
From Auto Parts To Missile Components
The opportunity isn’t limited to military trucks.
GM Defense is working with Lockheed Martin to increase production of components for Patriot missile interceptors.
GM Defense delivered its first components only 22 days after the manufacturing agreement was signed.
That demonstrates something traditional defense companies increasingly need from Detroit: the ability to manufacture complicated products quickly and repeatedly.
Michigan already has thousands of manufacturers accustomed to demanding automotive production and quality standards.
Those capabilities could potentially be redirected toward military vehicles, drones, electronics, autonomous systems and other defense products.
Michigan Suppliers Could Be The Bigger Opportunity
Ironically, giant automobile assembly plants may not be the easiest factories to convert to defense work.
Modern auto plants are highly specialized and designed to manufacture hundreds of similar vehicles every day. Military programs typically operate at much smaller volumes.
Michigan’s supplier network can be more flexible.
Companies producing sensors, electronics, motors, batteries, precision-machined components, communications equipment and autonomous systems frequently operate smaller production lines capable of serving different customers.
Defense technology also increasingly overlaps with technologies Michigan companies already understand: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, autonomous vehicles, advanced batteries and sophisticated electronics.
Michigan Has Done This Before
The idea isn’t new to Michigan.
More than two decades ago, the Army’s TACOM National Automotive Center in Warren operated the Commercially Based Tactical Truck, or COMBATT, program.
Ford F-350 and Dodge Ram pickups, along with GM vehicles during portions of the effort, were adapted into military prototypes.
The Army’s reasoning was similar to Britain’s approach today: leverage Detroit’s enormous commercial production base and private-sector technology rather than develop every vehicle and component from scratch.
The COMBATT program eventually disappeared as a distinct initiative, although the military continued purchasing vehicles derived from commercial truck platforms.
MITechNews will examine that Michigan history — and what the Army learned from it — in a follow-up report.
Michigan Already Has The Pieces
Michigan wouldn’t be building a defense industry from scratch.
The Detroit Arsenal in Warren is home to TACOM and the Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center, placing military vehicle research and procurement alongside Southeast Michigan’s automotive industry.
Major defense companies and hundreds of defense-related suppliers already operate in the state.
Newer companies are joining them.
MITechNews recently reported that Auburn Hills-based Swarm Defense Technologies received a minimum $25 million prototype delivery order to manufacture 4,000 Kiwi one-way attack drones.
The company is manufacturing the drones in Auburn Hills and has tested swarm technology at Camp Grayling.
Michigan therefore already possesses many of the pieces required for a larger defense manufacturing cluster: automotive engineering, skilled trades, suppliers, military research, robotics, autonomous technology and testing facilities.
Defense Won’t Replace The Auto Industry
Defense manufacturing isn’t going to replace Michigan’s automobile industry.
Military programs don’t operate at automotive volumes, and even GM Defense’s rapid growth represents a small fraction of GM’s overall revenue.
The larger economic opportunity could instead come from hundreds of contracts distributed across Michigan’s manufacturing base.
For an automotive supplier looking for new customers, that could be significant.
Michigan spent more than a century developing one of the world’s deepest automotive manufacturing ecosystems.
As global defense spending increases, the state may have an opportunity to put those factories, engineers and skilled workers to work building much more than cars.
