Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

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. "The economic warfare that is effectively the Strait of Hormuz, this is the new normal of what these conflicts are going to look like," the CEO said.

Don't Miss:

A single bad hire can set a startup back years. Here are the 5 hires founders most often misjudge — and why

Still Learning the Market? These 50 Must-Know Terms Can Help You Catch Up Fast

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.

"We're looking at how do we secure supply of germanium years out," 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.

See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

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.

Read Next: 

Skip the Regrets: The Essential Retirement Tips Experts Wish Everyone Knew Earlier.

Think you're saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.

EnergyX is a clean energy technology company focused on direct lithium extraction and refinery technologies for the lithium-ion battery supply chain. Its proprietary DLE systems are designed to recover lithium from brine resources more efficiently and with less environmental impact, supporting efforts to expand lithium supply for electric vehicles, grid-scale storage, and other battery applications.

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs. The company's services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.