[Prokopton]

Too much money on last generation weapons for last generation wars. The future is in UAVs, directed energy weapons, and spaced based defenses. The last two the very programs that have been cut/eliminated. The future is for the bold and the victors will have the high ground.

[paulycy]

Too much money on last generation weapons for last generation wars.

Will this still be true if we get a conservative POTUS and the middle east comes unglued? Won't most of the fighting be more traditional, meaning one country invading another with tanks and troops and aircraft, etc?

[americanophile]

Yes, that's the alternative - not no defense spending, but perhaps smarter defense spending. Starting with eliminating the appropriations for weapons that even the commanders don't want.

[Lysandru]

I agree with you somewhat.

The F-35, if it survives, will be our last manned tactical fighter. UAV's/ UCAV's are the future.

Directed Energy Weapons are about to become a breakout technology in my view.

So I would cancel the F-35. I also would cancel the EFV and make the Marines/ Navy come up with a 21st century answer to the Higgins boat (25 kt. speed, etc.). The Army's FCS Program was always way too ambitious. And does the LCS really pay for itself? I have heard that the Navy Surface Warfare community hates it.

We absolutely need new CVN's and SSN's-- to replace the old ones and the ones that the Chinese are going to sink.

[wxgesr]

That is true, but we need some traditional forces from the last wars for contingencies. We also need more cyber offensive and defense as well.

[robowombat]

‘The future is in UAVs, directed energy weapons, and spaced based defenses. The last two the very programs that have been cut/eliminated. The future is for the bold and the victors will have the high ground. ‘

True, these were the areas , along with other cutting edge technologies, that Rumsfeld concentrated on.

This Rand Corp publication gives a good detailed unclas overview of what SHOULD be a national strategic objective:

Mastering the Ultimate High Ground: Next Steps in the Military Uses of Space [new window][preview]

The author assesses the military space challenges that face the Air Force and the nation in light of the findings and recommendations of the congressionally mandated Space Commission, released in January 2001. After reviewing the main milestones in the Air Force’s involvement in space since its creation as an independent service in 1947, he examines the circumstances that occasioned the Space Commission’s creation, as well as the conceptual and organizational roadblocks that have impeded a more ...
www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1649.html

[castlegreyskull]

“Too much money on last generation weapons for last generation wars. The future is in UAVs, directed energy weapons, and spaced based defenses. The last two the very programs that have been cut/eliminated. The future is for the bold and the victors will have the high ground.”

They are developing USV. Basically unmanned submarines. It is extremely awesome concept, while we need to reach for the highground, we need to rule the seas.