United States Defense Thread

Yes, the logistics capacity of the US in 1944 was phenomenal but air and sea superiority made this possible. By 1944 the USN dwarfed the Japanese Imperial Navy and by the the end of the war, the three largest navies were the USN, the RN, and the RCN. The ability to produce high tech weaponry in sufficient quantities is a big question mark. How many times could the the USN reload all their MK 41s before missile inventories become exhausted?
 
KiwiRob said:
The import word in that sentence is WAS, they couldn't do today what they did then, not without many years of build up.
Click to expand...
Most definitely. They don't have the merchant fleet size any more and most certainly the ship building capacity to knock out ships like they did with the Liberty Ships.
 
A modern Liberty ship concept may be a solution, something that is inexpensive and that can be built quickly to replace the inevitable losses.
 
When this report is released it will be interesting. I posted earlier on inquires on Chinese content on the RCN thread with regards to our AOPS program. As many here are aware this is the tip of the iceberg, think cyber security and Huawei.

Here It Comes: Industrial Base Report Released Tonight

Mods, perhaps this should be in the cyber forum but it is a US pending announcement?
 
John Fedup said:
When this report is released it will be interesting. I posted earlier on inquires on Chinese content on the RCN thread with regards to our AOPS program. As many here are aware this is the tip of the iceberg, think cyber security and Huawei.

Here It Comes: Industrial Base Report Released Tonight

Mods, perhaps this should be in the cyber forum but it is a US pending announcement?
Click to expand...
Actually John it covers both. You could post the link to the report there with a link back to your original post here.
 
John Fedup said:
Trump just announced a $33 billion cut to DoD's budget. A 5% cut won't bring much blowback given the never ending annual federal deficits approaching a trillion dollars. A democratic House win could mean more cuts but not to the deficit as Demos will push for new social spending.

BREAKING: Trump Orders DoD To Take Surprise, $33B Budget Cut
Click to expand...
I saw that and I have read elsewhere that according to the Pentagon Comptroller, 2019 is the high water for US defence spending.
 
This brief article mentions how Western industry needs to do a rethink wrt its relationship with China. IMHO, it is somewhat late to finally figuring out that transferring valuable IP for easy access to the Chinese market wasn't such a great deal long term. Worse, many companies ignored outright theft and copyright violations for fear of losing market access. Aerospace is just about the last major high tech industry where the West still enjoys supremacy. It will interesting to see which one of duopoly companies China wants to take out of their market first, Boeing or Airbus.



OPINION: Western industry must rethink relationship with China
 
US Sec State Pompeo said this am the US will pull out of the INF if Russia doesn’t comply within 6 months.

And NATO seems to be behind the move

“
On Friday, NATO’s political decision-making body released an eight-paragraph statement outlining Russia’s violations of the treaty, adding that allies “fully support” the U.S. suspension.

“Unless Russia honours its INF Treaty obligations through the verifiable destruction of all of its 9M729 systems, thereby returning to full and verifiable compliance before the U.S. withdrawal takes effect in six months, Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the treaty,” the North Atlantic Council statement said.”
More here


US pulling out of Cold War-era arms control treaty with Russia, Pompeo says
 
Last edited:
Ranger25 said:
US Sec State Pompeo said this am the US will pull out of the INF if Russia doesn’t comply within 6 months.

And NATO seems to be behind the move

“
On Friday, NATO’s political decision-making body released an eight-paragraph statement outlining Russia’s violations of the treaty, adding that allies “fully support” the U.S. suspension.

“Unless Russia honours its INF Treaty obligations through the verifiable destruction of all of its 9M729 systems, thereby returning to full and verifiable compliance before the U.S. withdrawal takes effect in six months, Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the treaty,” the North Atlantic Council statement said.”
More here


US pulling out of Cold War-era arms control treaty with Russia, Pompeo says
Click to expand...

The whole thing smells fishy. I suspect the truth is that in light of developing missile inventories in non-INF countries, neither Russia nor the US are willing to make a significant effort to preserve the INF in its present form.
 
Feanor said:
The whole thing smells fishy. I suspect the truth is that in light of developing missile inventories in non-INF countries, neither Russia nor the US are willing to make a significant effort to preserve the INF in its present form.
Click to expand...
I get the impression that it suits both parties for the INF Treaty to be declared null and void, but they both want a face saving way out.
 
Feanor said:
The whole thing smells fishy. I suspect the truth is that in light of developing missile inventories in non-INF countries, neither Russia nor the US are willing to make a significant effort to preserve the INF in its present form.
Click to expand...
The US says it's willing to sit down and negotiate. I can just see Trump and Putin meeting in private to work out a nuke deal. No doubting who will get the better terms. Maybe that is the intent of the Russian pullout, as an excuse for Russia to engage the US in another round of nuke talks where they can basically get what they want.
 
Agree, the INF treaty is a constraint that neither Russia or the US want due to the increasing missile capabilities of ROW nations, especially China.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top