military industrial complex

English - English

Definition of military industrial complex in English English dictionary: network of business relationships between the U.S. Department of Defense and military contractors (extremely large and influences U.S. Security policies); the armed forces of a nation together with the industries that supply their weapons and materiel; Alliance between top industry and top military personnel who protect their common interests in arms production and use; a country's military establishment and the industries that produce arms and other military equipment; "we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex"--Dwight David Eisenhower; A phrase first coined by President Eisenhower in his 1961 farewell address describing the close linkage between the U S military and private contractors in the military industry; The three components (the military establishment, the industries that manufacture weapons, and the members of Congress from states and districts that depend heavily on the arms industry) that mutually benefit from a high level of defense spending; A concept coined by President Eisenhower in his farewell address, in which he was referring to the threats to American democracy that may arise from too close a friendship between major corporations in the defense industry and the Pentagon This is one example of the larger political phenomenon of the iron triangle; the close association among the federal government, the military and defense industries