Rationalization, Standardization and Interoperability: Protecting U.S. Interests in the Process,

Abstract

The military necessity for Rationalization, Standardization and Interoperability increases as the possibility of a non-nuclear European war increases. The No-First-Use of nuclear weapons policy that has received considerable attention in the recent past must inevitably dictate that conventional force capabilities be significantly improved. One of the most dramatic force multipliers as it were, is the capability of all nations to utilize weapon systems that are either the same (Standardization) or at least compatible in fuel, ammunition and communication. National Security may be viewed in the context of capability and credibility. If a nation (or alliance) has no capability, the credibility of its actions is not significant. NATO has been viewed by its members a vehicle whereby the synergistic sum is greater than the sum of its parts. The viability of NATO will ultimately depend upon the willingness of the individual states to sacrifice their national interests for the advantage of projecting a combined conventional capability sufficiently credible to deter Soviet aggression. For this reason alone, a rational RSI Program must be an integral part of U.S./NATO strategic planning.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1983
Accession Number
ADP002814

Entities

People

  • J. H. Gill

Organizations

  • University of Southern California

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Alliances
  • Ammunition
  • Conventional Capabilities
  • Defense Mechanisms
  • Governments
  • Integrals
  • Interoperability
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Procurement
  • Security
  • Standardization
  • Synergism
  • Weapon Systems
  • Weapons

Readers

  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies