Defense Science and Technology Strategy

Abstract

U.S. cold war defense and weapons acquisition strategies were strongly driven by the competition with an adversary who possessed an ever- improving military juggernaut supplied by an active weapons system acquisition pipeline. The new defense and acquisition strategies focus on the potentially dangerous regional challenges we face, while retaining the capability to respond to any emerging global threats. In addressing these challenges, the military equipment we face will often be of very high quality, providing our opponents with a formidable fighting capability. Regional powers have increasing access to both western weaponry and high quality equipment from the former Soviet Union. The U.S. will have to continue to work hard to maintain a significant technological edge. In peace, technological superiority is a key element of deterrence. In crisis, it provides a wide spectrum of options to the National Command Authority and Commanders in Chief, while providing confidence to our allies. In war, it enhances combat effectiveness and reduces the loss of personnel and equipment, as was demonstrated by the performance of our weapons and supporting systems against Iraq.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA253691

Entities

Organizations

  • Office of the Director

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Addressing
  • Cis
  • Cold War
  • Combat Effectiveness
  • Competition
  • Deterrence
  • Geographic Regions
  • Military Equipment
  • Pipelines
  • Spectra
  • Ussr
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Software Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies