Adapting technology

I try to stay current on changes in weapons, equipment, transportation and tactics that all affect the way the U.S. wages war. The difficulty presented in staying current becomes difficult as technology speeds the changes and new developments overpower defenses. When defenses are overpowered and made ineffective, new technology must be rushed to the military before a potential enemy can use the advantages they have developed.

One of the best examples of a rush to rearm can be seen during World War II. When the war started in 1939, air forces around the world still had biplanes in their military air weaponry. When the war ended in 1945, jet-powered aircraft were joining the air war. The same thing happened with armored vehicles anti-tank weapons became more powerful. To combat these anti-tank weapons, more powerful main guns were mounted on tanks to accurately hit targets at greater distances. This rapid progression of weaponry has continued since World War II, and by the time new weapons reach the fighters those weapons are already out of date.

The first solution to this problem is a rapid change in the selection and approval of new military items. We no longer have the luxury of taking four years to select a new weapon and then taking two more years to begin manufacturing the items. Meanwhile, our potential enemies are developing new systems to combat our future changes. The changing purchasing system weakens our military power with increasing rapidity, and the change in these systems can only happen in Congress. They control the purchasing power of the military and the approval of items to purchase are subject to the political power of defense contractors. Before getting weapons approved the defense contractors must purchase the political power to get the purchases approved by Congress.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.