Letter Calling on the Pentagon to Think Outside the Box to Build Arsenal of Deterrence

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party wrote to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, recommending innovative solutions to counter Xi Jinping's historic military build up and threats to Taiwan. Xi Jinping has ordered the Chinese military to be ready for an invasion by 2027. Recent war games show the United States would run out of key weapons in a matter of days during a Taiwan invasion scenario. Meanwhile, there is still a roughly $19 billion backlog in military equipment for Taiwan – some of which is now slated for delivery in 2029. To help overcome these challenges, Chairman Gallagher recommends creative methods to rapidly deploy an arsenal of deterrence with equipment already in the Pentagon inventories.

Gallagher wrote to Hicks, "Recent war games simulating a conflict with China over Taiwan show that the United States would run out of long-range, precision-guided munitions in less than one week...Today’s challenges must force us to adapt and think outside the box. If delays are preventing vital weapons from being delivered to Taiwan, we must be creative in putting together capabilities – using weapons and assets already in our inventory – that we can promptly deliver to Taiwan. If cost and production times are limiting our supplies of long-range [precision guided missiles], we must look at cheaper alternatives that can be produced quickly, which can complement the more expensive missiles. Two innovative ideas – the 'MacGyver' Harpoons and Powered JDAMs [Joint Direct Attack Munitions] – may offer potential solutions to our problems and help strengthen the arsenal of deterrence at this urgent moment."

With small alterations, a “MacGyver” solution could combine old Harpoon missiles currently in the U.S. inventory with land-based systems in American or Taiwanese stocks. Additionally, for a fraction of the cost of a precision guided missile, Powered JDAMs can be fitted with 500-pound bombs and travel at least 300 nautical miles as cheap cruise missiles. While both options would not replace precision guided missiles, Gallagher notes that they could complement our missile inventory and provide instant deterrence for Taiwan as CCP aggression mounts.

Gallagher requested that Deputy Secretary Hicks submit information to Congress on how the Pentagon plans to pursue “MacGyver Harpoons,” Powered JDAMs, and similar creative options to bolster deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.

View Chairman Gallagher's letter here