In the years since the Cold War ended, the U.S. Army has faced repeated setbacks in trying to modernize its weapons. Several major initiatives were canceled, and counter-insurgency campaigns in Southwest Asia distracted planners from the threat posed by near-peer adversaries. But today the Army has a modernization plan that shows greater promise than at any time since President Reagan left office. Five factors seem to be driving the improved outlook for recapitalizing aged warfighting systems: the availability of adequate funding, the careful planning of current initiatives, a cohesive leadership team at the top, an unambiguous focus on what technology is most needed, and a preference for systems that are feasible in both technological and budgetary terms. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.
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