The U.S. Marines have a problem. They rely on their CH-53E Super Stallion medium-heavy lift helicopters to move troops, vehicles, and supplies off of their ships. But the helicopters are wearing out. Fast. The pace demanded by the Global War on
Congress may make sweeping cuts in the next DoD budget, affecting every level of supplier. However, COTS vendors see a silver lining as DoD officials will need to upgrade existing naval, air, and ground platforms if no replacements are funded.
Maintaining a healthy defense posture requires sustained funding for national defense at no less than 4 percent of GDP. Unless Congress continues to separate funding for ongoing militaryoperations to combat terrorism from the core defense program, thecost of these ongoing operations will come at the expense ofnecessary long-term investments for defense.
Experience shows that blended warfare will happen more often thanexpected in one conflict and that hybrid conflict will demand creative approaches to operational problems, including the need forad hoc, modular composite units. As Army leaders create an updatedmodernization plan, they will be wise not to think of modernizationin a vacuum, but to plan for a future force of legacy and modernplatforms.