Rebuilding America's Military: Thinking About the Future

This report discusses the need to rebuild America's military to prepare for future conflicts, emphasizing an iterative approach to modernization rather than big leaps in technology. It highlights the importance of experimentation, capacity, and a culture focused on warfighting education. The report critiques the current “big-leap” approach as risky and suggests a more evolutionary method that builds on incremental improvements.

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Quick Facts
Report location: source
Language: English
Publisher: Heritage Foundation
Publication date: July 24, 2018
Authors: Dakota Wood
Geographic focus: United States, China
Page count: 34

Methods

RAMP's research method involves analyzing historical patterns, technological trends, and military service histories. It emphasizes the importance of experimentation, iterative modernization, and a warfighting-focused education. The project critiques the military's current “big-leap” modernization approach and advocates for a more evolutionary method that builds on incremental improvements.

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Key Insights

The U.S. military is at a critical juncture, facing the need for rebuilding due to engagement beyond capacity and deteriorated readiness. The current approach to future conflict preparation involves significant risks, as it seeks revolutionary capabilities through force-wide commitments to major programs. The Heritage Foundation's Rebuilding America’s Military Project (RAMP) recommends adopting an iterative, experimentation-heavy approach, which can achieve revolutionary outcomes with less risk through evolutionary improvements. This approach requires a military culture immersed in the study of war and a force with sufficient capacity to manage current operations while preparing for the future.

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