Brian Schimpf, CEO of defense tech giant Anduril, has raised concerns about the evolving dynamics of modern warfare and the potential unpreparedness of the U.S. military’s supply chain.



At Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech conference on Monday, Schimpf noted that the U.S. and Israel executed ten times more strikes in the first month of a recent war than in the entire Gulf War. He suggested that this could be the “new normal.”



Schimpf emphasized that modern conflicts are less about destroying military assets and more about crippling economies. &#34;The economic warfare that is effectively the Strait of Hormuz, this is the new normal of what these conflicts are going to look like,&#34; the CEO said. 



However, Schimpf warned that the U.S. faces a “particularly tricky problem” here as “it’s essentially impossible” to impose high economic costs on a country like China without also inflicting substantial damage on its own economy.



He also discussed the fragility of the supply chain, pointing out that the U.S. used approximately 850 Tomahawk missiles in a four-week conflict with Iran, depleting a stockpile that was being replenished at a rate of about 90%. Schimpf suggested a solution could be redesigning weapons for easier manufacturing and securing the supply of raw materials, which includes rare earth.



&#34;We're looking at how do we secure supply of germanium years out,&#34; Schimpf said. The CEO warned that China has gained a strategic advantage by systematically securing control of critical minerals and key suppliers, creating leverage that the U.S. has been slow to address.



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<h2>Anduril Sees No Rush To IPO</h2>



Anduril’s recent Series H funding round, which raised $5 billion and doubled the company’s valuation to $61 billion, underscores the growing importance of defense technology. The company’s growth, driven by AI-powered autonomous systems and surging revenue, reflects the increasing reliance on advanced defense systems in modern warfare.



When asked about a potential IPO during Monday’s event, Schimpf declined to provide a timeline and argued that staying private currently offers advantages. He said the company is “growing like crazy” in a market fueled by strong investor enthusiasm, and sees no need to go public at this time.



The rapid rise of defense-tech firms such as Anduril and Shield AI reflects a new era of geopolitical rivalry. The sector’s growth is being driven by escalating global tensions and record military spending, which reached $2.89 trillion in 2025.



Anduril’s recent partnership with LMI to fast-track Army tech also highlights the shift in defense capability development. The collaboration aims to accelerate the delivery of tools for an evolving battlefield, further emphasizing the changing dynamics of modern warfare that Schimpf warned about.



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



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Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf warns that economic warfare is the 'new normal,' with China leveraging critical minerals to create strategic advantages. He argues it is nearly impossible for the U.S. to impose high costs on China without self-harm, citing supply chain fragility and depleted missile stockpiles. Schimpf advocates for securing raw materials like germanium and redesigning weapons for easier manufacturing. Additionally, Anduril declined to set an IPO timeline, citing advantages of staying private amid its $61 billion valuation.

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Anduril CEO Says Economic Warfare Is The 'New Normal'—And China Has Made It 'Essentially Impossible' For The US To Be Fully Prepared