Current U.S. force structure and major platforms are likely to fail in the emerging operational environment. If the Pentagon still believes 2027, or even 2035, is the deadline to be ready for a conflict with China, the U.S. defense industrial base simply cannot produce enough of our current platforms and munitions, even with unlimited funding. We can’t buy our way out. Focusing on the new generation of containerized air, ground, sea, and subsea precision weapons that can be mass produced is the only path to fielding sufficient capability to deter China or succeed in a sustained conflict. While current U.S. weapons systems cannot be produced in large numbers in the next few years, these new systems can quickly strengthen the Joint Force.

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Dr. T.X. Hammes is a Distinguished Fellow in the Center for Strategy and Military Power, Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University.