Reshaping Tactical Aircraft Development and Procurement Practices for the New U.S. Defense Strategy of Reconstitution
Abstract
With the decline of the Soviet threat abroad and the prolonged recession and mounting budget deficits at home, the United States is in the process of slashing its defense budget. Military planners have responded by formulating a new U.S. defense strategy. This new strategy relies upon the maintenance of a high-quality 'base force' to react to more probable and immediate types of conflict, while relaying upon the 'reconstitution' of forces in the event of an impending major conflict. Focusing on the airframe manufacturers of attack and fighter aircraft, this paper analyzes variations of three potential government policies for weapons development and production to determine which would best enhance the nation's ability to rapidly reconstitute a high-technology force should the need arise. The most viable of these policies are graded according to a list of reconstitution criteria. This grading estimates how the various policies affect such things as industry responsiveness, total cost, probable political support, and the tradeoff between present and future military capacities. The first potential policy analyzed is the presently favored 'hands-off,' or 'free-market' approach to the restructuring of the defense industry, which is leading the major contractors to team together to bid on future projects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA252434
Entities
People
- Todd A. Manning
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology