U.S. Defense Perspectives Fiscal Year 1978,
Abstract
Military strength is an essential element of national security, given the world situation. Where, for 20-25 years after World War II, the superiority of U.S. Military strength was hardly questioned, the emergence of the Soviet Union as a 'superpower' puts U.S. national security in a different light. There is consensus that U.S. military capability and strength can be described as 'sufficient' -- today. However, the trends over a 10-15 year period had been decidedly adverse, quantitatively and qualitatively, as well as with respect to the key military balances, until arrested by real increases in the Defense budget in FY 1976 and FY 1977. While no one chart, statistic or trend can present the complete picture, a sweeping look at level of effort, resource allocation, procurement and R&D efforts, equipment production rates, force level trends, and shifts, in relative capability does make it clear what has taken place. An unclassified collection of graphics is presented here, with explanatory notes and appropriate caveats. On the basis of these facts presented, one can make a judgment with regard to the effort required to prevent recurrence of trends in the military balance which are adverse to U.S. national security.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA104311
Entities
People
- Donald Rumsfeld
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense