Hegseth to highlight rebuilding the 'Arsenal of Freedom' in speech at Reagan National Defense Forum

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is preparing to deliver a speech Saturday on rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley California Ahead of the keynote address Hegseth shared a video on X touring facilities in California The era of vendor-locked prime-dominated closed architecture cost plus over We're going to compete we're going to move fast we're going to do open architecture we're going to innovate we're going to scale we're going to do it at cost Because this is a commitment to a mission Hegsteh noted in the video Whether you're a vet or not who served already all of you are serving the Department of War the American people and the Arsenal of Freedom Hegseth revealed I need you to understand that yes we're here for the war fighters who are out there pulling triggers on the behalf of our nation right now Everybody here's touched someone who serves at particular point But they can't succeed without you WAR DEPARTMENT REFOCUSES ON AI HYPERSONICS AND DIRECTED VIGOR IN MAJOR STRATEGY OVERHAUL The secretary reported those building the Department of War's arsenal that American troops would not be able to do what's required of them in far-flung places in dangerous moments in the dead of night without the capabilities that you will underwrite for them So this Arsenal of Freedom is built not just with men and women in camouflage But it's in folks in civilian clothes all across the country Who are also putting in the work to out-compete out-innovate and out-manufacture our opponents Hegseth declared Hegseth's speech is set to begin around p m ET according to a Reagan National Defense Forum schedule He will be joined at the event by other leaders from the U S military We are rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom Hegseth wrote on X alongside the video SAUDI ARABIA IS ALREADY AMERICA'S TOP ARMS BUYER AND NOW TRUMP WANTS TO ADD F- SThe event is being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley The Reagan National Defense Forum RNDF brings together leaders from across the political spectrum and key stakeholders in the defense district including Members of Congress current and former Administration agents senior military leadership industry executives instrument innovators and thought leaders the Forum declared on its website Their mission is to review and assess policies that strengthen America's national defense in the context of the global threat habitat it added