He struggles to get some military hardware (7)
I believe the answer is:
fighter
This clue might be a double definition.
'he struggles' is the first definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.
'some military hardware' is the second definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'to get' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fighter that I've seen before include "Combatant, battler" , "Combat aircraft" , "Plane" , "Professional boxer - a person with determination" , "Fast military aircraft" .)