Come on people. We are talking about accelerating
FUTURE technology into today's battlefied.
Notice that you don't see any tanks opposing us on today's battlefield. 120mm, 105mm, and 155mm canons do precisely *what* against RPG's, landmines, and IED's?
New turbines or diesel engines do precisely what to protect our soldiers and eliminate our enemies?
Think, people! We aren't fighting the Soviet tank armada in East Germany. We're fighting lightly armed amatuer fanatics who blend in with civilian populations (and might quit and go back home at any minute, there is no conscription - or might blow themselves up, or might engage in a suicidal banzai charge, or might lob a few mortar rounds or RPG's before running away).
We need better mine detection on all of our vehicles, bar none.
We need better situational awareness.
We *don't* need a new Soviet-tank-killer. Newsflash, the CCCP is dead and gone. It's the Soviet remnants, sold far and wide, that we have to deal with. AK-47's. SA-7 Strella's. RPG's. Some Katyushka rockets. Some C-4. Some mines.
120mm, 105mm, and 155mm canons do precisely *what* against RPG's, landmines, and IED's?Nothing. They are useful for killing people who would otherwise be trying to use those weapons on us if they were still alive. Do you think tank guns and howitzers are of no use in the kinds of operations being conducted in Iraq? In many operations you are correct, but last week they were calling in air strikes and firing mortars so there are still uses for firepower. Not everyplace we are going to fight in the next 30 years will be like Iraq is right now.
New turbines or diesel engines do precisely what to protect our soldiers and eliminate our enemies?
Mobility gets our soldiers out of trouble faster; gets the Cavalry to the rescue faster, gets weapons to bear on targets faster. Gettin' there firstest with the mostest is no longer important?
We need better mine detection on all of our vehicles, bar none.
Well, FCS is working on remote control vehicles that can precede the manned vehicles and detonate any mine in the road. You would ensure that no vehicle moves without mine rollers attached or a remote control vehicle leading it or dismounted engineers with mine detectors sweeping the road in front of it? How are is anybody supposed to get anywhere at that rate?
We need better situational awareness.
What exactly is situational awareness? I get suspicious when I here that term. It is generally being used by somebody selling some gold-plated, high-tech, contractor-maintained substitute for binoculars.