The American defense complex finds itself in a critical situation known as the "death spiral," a topic that military experts have been actively discussing in recent years.
According to prominent analyst William Hartung, this crisis stems from the fact that defense spending continues to rise, while the actual number of weapons is decreasing, which could have serious implications for U.S. allies, particularly Ukraine.
In recent decades, each new generation of weapons has become more complex and expensive than the previous one. While the Pentagon currently spends 60% more on defense than it did in the 1970s, the amount of military equipment is declining. For instance, the U.S. Army now has half as many combat aircraft and ships as it did in the past. This indicates that the increase in spending does not correspond to a proportional rise in military capability.
It is important to note that this situation has arisen because modern weapons are extremely complex and costly to produce and operate. As a result, the U.S. is forced to use high-tech missiles to counter relatively simple and inexpensive threats, such as the missiles fired by the Houthis in Yemen.
The expert suggests two potential solutions for the U.S. to avoid further deepening this crisis. The first option is to produce more simple and inexpensive weapons that can accomplish basic tasks without significant expenditure. The second option is to limit U.S. military doctrine, which asserts that the American military should be capable of conducting wars anywhere in the world.
Regarding Ukraine, Hartung notes that the current U.S. strategy for supplying weapons to Kyiv is appropriate. He supports providing assistance to Ukraine, viewing it as a crucial element of deterring Russian aggression. However, the expert also warns that a complete military victory in the war in eastern Ukraine may be unattainable for both sides, hence he calls for an urgent search for diplomatic solutions to resolve the conflict.
Source: forbes .
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