The Evolution of Innovation Policy in the U.S. Defense Industrial Base and Implications for Vietnam

Abstract

This article analyzes the evolution of innovation policy in the U.S. defense industrial sector from World War II to the present in order to clarify the mechanisms underpinning the country’s long-term military technological superiority. Drawing on a historical - institutional approach and an analytical framework encompassing state-led innovation, dual-use technology, defense industrial complex, and the defense innovation ecosystem, the study identifies three major transition phases in the U.S. model: wartime mobilization, institutionalization during the Cold War, and flexible restructuring after 1991. Based on these findings, the article proposes several policy implications for Vietnam in developing its defense innovation ecosystem in line with the current strategic context.