Aging: New Weapons Too Expensive to Modernize Forces on a Timely Basis.

Plan: Envisions 2nd Generation War of Attrition in Distant Future
 

• JV-2010/RMA: More Complexity, Based on Old Mechanistic Ideas

  • Target-Based Automated SEE-DECIDE-STRIKE Cycle is New Version of Igloo White (1960s), Quick Strike Surveillance-Recce (1970s), Assault Breaker (late 1970s)

  • Increased Emphasis on Precision Wpns. Which Require Sharp Distinctions & Precise Knowledge

New Weapons & Force Structure: Tech. & Ideas Are Legacies of Cold War Thinking
 

• Army: Smaller Version of Heavy Force Designed to Fight on North German Plain

  • Comanche, Crusader, Digitization, and New Generation of “Fire & Forget PGMs.

  • Increased Emphasis on Active Force Rather than Shift to Reserves

• Air Force: Smaller Version of Force Configured for Bombing of “Strategic” Infrastructure & Interdicting Tank-Heavy Ground Forces

  • Continued Emphasis on Cold War Technologies (Stealthy F-22 & JSF, Adv. PGMs, Force Multipliers)

  • Less CAS & Dir. Supt of Army, But Increased Use of Space

  • Marginal Increases in Reserves

• Navy: Smaller Version of Force Configured for Global War at Sea & Strategic Bombardment

  • Surface Combatants Configured for Air Defense (Aegis) and Cruise Missile Attack (TLAM)

  • Air (F/A-18E/F & JSF) Configured for Deep Bombing

  • No Surface Fire Support / Sea-Based CAS to Support Marines in 3rd Generation Littoral Operations

  • Attack Submarines Configured for Open Ocean Warfare (NSSN) & Cruise Missile Attack (TLAM)

• Marine Corps: Only Service to Adopt 3rd Generation Warfare as Doctrine (1980s)

  • Struggling to Evolve Doctrinal Response to End of Cold War - OMFTS & Urban Warfare

  • But Modernizing with High-Cost Weapons that are Legacies of Cold War (JSF / V-22 / AAAV)