Posted on Jul 29, 2015
Is the United States at risk of losing its technological edge?
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China is doing the best job of any nation at countering U.S. military capabilities and acquiring technology to keep the American military out of the western Pacific, a top Pentagon official said Tuesday.
“What they’re buying is a suite of capabilities that are designed to keep us out of their part of the world,” said Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics.
“That suite of capabilities includes capabilities to control space and deny us our space-based communications and sensing capabilities … it includes the capabilities to attack us with cyber weapons in various ways, it includes long range cruise and ballistic missiles … designed to attack our high value assets, particularly carriers and air fields,” said Kendall, who added that he receives daily briefings on what equipment and weapons systems other nations are purchasing.
“If you take all of these things and put them together you have a very formidable layered defense system that makes it very hard for us to project power forward,” he said.
Speaking at the Directed Energy Summit hosted by defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton and think-tank the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Kendall said the Asian nation is starting to develop air-to-air missile and electronic systems that are on par with the U.S.
“I’m not suggesting that war with China’s likely,” he said. “But I am suggesting that … it is very likely for us to have friction points out there.”
Plus, he added, it is possible that China could sell its technology to groups or nations that the U.S. is more likely to face in combat.
The U.S. must not get complacent in its technological innovation, he warned.
“We are so used, however, to the assumption of U.S. technological superiority that often when I bring this up with people they dismiss it,” he said. “They don’t think of China as a formidable opponent.”
Read more at ...
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/07/28/pentagon-officials-cite-challenges-maintaining-technological-edge/30792603/
“What they’re buying is a suite of capabilities that are designed to keep us out of their part of the world,” said Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics.
“That suite of capabilities includes capabilities to control space and deny us our space-based communications and sensing capabilities … it includes the capabilities to attack us with cyber weapons in various ways, it includes long range cruise and ballistic missiles … designed to attack our high value assets, particularly carriers and air fields,” said Kendall, who added that he receives daily briefings on what equipment and weapons systems other nations are purchasing.
“If you take all of these things and put them together you have a very formidable layered defense system that makes it very hard for us to project power forward,” he said.
Speaking at the Directed Energy Summit hosted by defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton and think-tank the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Kendall said the Asian nation is starting to develop air-to-air missile and electronic systems that are on par with the U.S.
“I’m not suggesting that war with China’s likely,” he said. “But I am suggesting that … it is very likely for us to have friction points out there.”
Plus, he added, it is possible that China could sell its technology to groups or nations that the U.S. is more likely to face in combat.
The U.S. must not get complacent in its technological innovation, he warned.
“We are so used, however, to the assumption of U.S. technological superiority that often when I bring this up with people they dismiss it,” he said. “They don’t think of China as a formidable opponent.”
Read more at ...
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/07/28/pentagon-officials-cite-challenges-maintaining-technological-edge/30792603/
Technology
Readiness
DoD
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 12
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Any country convinced of it's own superiority that fails to continue to innovate will eventually fall behind. We've been on a downward spiral for a minute now..
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I'm not sure we can spend enough to keep up with China. They have an enormous economy and an autocratic government. They just steal everything from us anyway. I would be thoroughly unsurprised to discover they have full schematics and documentation on the F-35 already.
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MCPO Roger Collins
SGT Jeremiah B. - There is a current analysis available by Gordon Chang that shows the econ problems China is having. This is the year he is saying they will drop like a rock.
National interest dot org
2015: The Year China Goes Broke?
National interest dot org
2015: The Year China Goes Broke?
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SGT Jeremiah B.
MCPO Roger Collins - Potential and no, it has nothing to do with OUR leaders. China's potential is enormous, they have a rapidly growing middle class and a culture that thinks more of the whole than individuals. It might be a while off, but we're not going to be the top economy forever. They're next up if they can figure out how to reform their system, which they're attempting to do.
The only way we're going to keep up is if we become completely unconcerned with how our businesses conduct themselves both at home and abroad. A move I think most Americans would rightfully find horrifying.
The only way we're going to keep up is if we become completely unconcerned with how our businesses conduct themselves both at home and abroad. A move I think most Americans would rightfully find horrifying.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
MCPO Roger Collins - I'm familiar with Chang. I agree with him as the Chinese government is going to be forced to be less meddlesome in their economy if they want to be involved in some of the newer trade deals (China wants in on the TPP, which would require them to stop intervening in the yuan's value). The question is how that will play out long-term and how much the rest of us will suffer alongside them.
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It has been at risk in some areas for many years as our economic allies and some of our foes have overtaken us in some fields GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad.
Our environmental requirements and other regulations have driven some business assets overseas. While these are not military or defense high priority business assets it presents a troubling trend.
Critical assets and infrastructure is "protected" more closely than less than critical assets.
There are advanced communication developments going on in multiple countries and efforts to interfere, eavesdrop, alter those communications as well. This is part of the broader "arms race.
Our environmental requirements and other regulations have driven some business assets overseas. While these are not military or defense high priority business assets it presents a troubling trend.
Critical assets and infrastructure is "protected" more closely than less than critical assets.
There are advanced communication developments going on in multiple countries and efforts to interfere, eavesdrop, alter those communications as well. This is part of the broader "arms race.
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