The US, once the world s undisputed military superpower, has been struggling for years to efficiently update its arsenal and field new technology in cutting-edge areas such as hypersonics and artificial intelligence, at a time when some senior officials warn that China could be within five years of surpassing the US military. Experts point to myriad problems with the US system, including a slow, calcified budgeting process, unwieldy congressional requirements and the Pentagon s inability to effectively piggyback on private-sector advances in digital know-how. It s like the Pentagon is finding itself staring in the rearview mirror in the face of oncoming traffic, said Mackenzie Eaglen, a defence analyst at the American Enterprise Institute.
The US system created the world s most advanced military Can it maintain an edge?
stripes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stripes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Some Quick Wins, But Air Force Struggles With AI « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary
breakingdefense.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from breakingdefense.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BBC News
image copyrightGetty Images
National power will be defined not by the number of tanks and ships a country possesses but by its science and technology, and the quality of its algorithms.
That is the message of the UK s Integrated Review, which says the government s aim is for the country to become an innovation superpower by 2030. This will be essential in gaining economic, political and security advantages in the coming decade, it says.
It marks a major strategic shift in thinking. But delivery will not be straightforward.
US v China
A global tech race is heating up.
China this month announced its latest five-year plan, including significant increases in research and development spending.