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25 Oct 23. Resilient Defense Industrial Base Critical for Deterring Conflict.
A resilient defense industrial base is critical to the Defense Department’s ability to deter future conflict, the Pentagon’s top acquisition official said today.
William A. LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said ensuring that resiliency requires steady demand signals from government to industry, a key takeaway from the war in Ukraine.
“Very few people anticipated the prolonged, high-volume conflict we are seeing in Ukraine or that we might see again against a strategic competitor,” LaPlante said during this year’s Common Defense Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
“We are relearning just how resource-intensive this type of warfare can be, and how dialing down our production numbers, and the just-in-time delivery model doesn’t work in this kind of conflict,” he said. “We need a paradigm shift to meet the needs of today and the future fight.”
LaPlante said that for decades, the defense industry has been subject to spikes in demand for munitions during conflict only to be faced with plummeting demand during peacetime.
“Almost every time after a crisis is over — usually two to three years after the crisis, after demand peaks — demand sharply drops, the industrial base cuts core competencies and workforce, people are laid off and production lines are stopped,” he said. “This has happened about four times in the past 30 years.
“When folks say they don’t understand why it’s taking a while to ramp up and why they’re not investing, it’s because they know that history just like we know that history,” he said. “And so, we’re trying to stop that.”
LaPlante said shoring up the defense industrial base and ramping up production lines has been a key focus of his over the past year with an emphasis on multi-year contracts that provide the defense industry and investors with the confidence needed to sustain production.
“How do we build up the confidence with industry that they can also do their investment,” he said. “This often comes down to contracts. Speeches are wonderful… but contracts are actually more meaningful. And that’s what industry pays attention to.”
LaPlante also emphasized the importance of increasing opportunities for the U.S. and allies to work on co-development and co-production of critical platforms — especially in the Indo-Pacific.
Spotlight: Focus on Indo-Pacific
He noted several promising steps taken in the past year to foster these relationships including a security of supply arrangement between the U.S. and Japan that creates a streamlined mechanism to resolve supply chain disruptions.
The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at increasing opportunities for collaboration on emerging defense technology.
LaPlante said he expects that the U.S. will continue to seize on similar opportunities with other allies.
“Forging and fostering partnerships across the Indo-Pacific is critical for so many nations,” he said. “It’s more important than it has ever been.”
Ultimately, LaPlante said, seizing on opportunities to shore up defense production on a global scale is critical to the United States’ strategy of deterrence.
“Production itself is deterrence,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. The more we work together to expand global capacity of production and sustainment and foster opportunities for even co-development, co-production and co-sustainment, the better off we will be.”
(Source: U.S. DoD)
24 Oct 23. U.S. Focuses on Deterrence as China Raises Stakes in Indo-Pacific. The U.S. remains laser-focused on deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific as China doubles down on its efforts to boost its military power and engage in increasingly provocative behavior, a senior Pentagon official said yesterday.
Ely S. Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said as China continues to raise the stakes in the region, the Defense Department has responded with a steady hand to ensure competition does not become conflict.
“We’re not losing sight of the fact that the department has identified China as the top pacing challenge,” Ratner said. “We’re investing focused capabilities on solving operational problems associated with that.”
He added that, in response to China’s military buildup, the DOD has remained focused on developing new operational concepts, deepening relationships with regional allies, and modernizing its force posture in the region.
Ratner, who was joined by Michael S. Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, offered his remarks during a discussion of the Pentagon’s recently published 2023 China Military Power Report. The event was hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington.
The annual report on China, known formally as the People’s Republic of China or PRC, was released by the Pentagon last week. It details China’s national, economic and military strategy, current capabilities and future modernization goals pursuant to that country’s aim of reshaping the international order.
According to the report, over the past year China adopted more provocative behaviors in the Indo-Pacific while accelerating its military buildup in a bid to project power abroad.
“At the same time, the PRC largely denied, cancelled and ignored recurring bilateral defense engagements, as well as DOD requests for military-to-military communication at multiple levels,” the report reads.
According to the report, China is seeking to modernize its military, the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, across all domains of warfare in pursuit of its aims of reshaping the global power balance.
China’s military has focused on the rapid development of its nuclear, space and cyberspace capabilities. DOD officials estimate that the Chinese had more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023, and it was on track to exceed some previous projections.
“Compared to the PLA’s nuclear modernization efforts a decade ago, current efforts dwarf previous attempts in both scale and complexity,” the report reads, adding that DOD officials asses that China will likely reach 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030.
China has also focused on expanding its naval capabilities to project power by sea. It has the largest navy in the world, in terms of number of ships and submarines, with a total battle force of 370 ships and submarines. That includes 140 major surface combatants, according to the report.
We’re not losing sight of the fact that the department has identified China as the top pacing challenge. We’re investing focused capabilities on solving operational problems associated with that.”
More broadly, U.S. officials also assess that China’s military has sought to modernize and improve its ground, air, strategic and joint-support forces and has undertaken key structural reforms to strengthen its ability to conduct joint operations.
“The PLA is aggressively developing capabilities to provide options for the PRC to dissuade, deter, or, if ordered, defeat third-party intervention in the Indo-Pacific region and to conduct military operations deeper into the Indo-Pacific region and globally,”
The report also raises concerns over the risky and aggressive intercepts by China’s military of U.S. aircraft operating in international airspace in accordance with international law.
“Between the fall of 2021 and fall of 2023, the United States has documented over 180 instances of PLA coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region — more in the past two years than in the previous decade,” the report reads.
“Over the same period, the PLA has conducted around 100 instances of coercive and risky operational behavior against U.S. allies and partners in an effort to deter both the United States and others from conducting lawful operations in the region,” the report continues.
That concerning behavior on the part of China’s military was part of a “coordinated campaign,” Ratner said.
“This was a variety of different behaviors,” he said. “It was air intercepts that were coming in too fast, that got too close, that brandished weapons, that engaged in risky and dangerous maneuvers around U.S. aircraft — that, we think, is important to be highlighting because they really are dangerous.
“They put lives at risk, and they risk also potential crises that could lead to inadvertant conflict,” Ratner said.
Chase added that the concerning rise in intercepts further underscores the importance of resuming regular, military-to-military communications between the U.S. and China at the operational level as soon as possible.
He said that while the report focuses on China’s buildup, it was also important to underscore the United States’ “very strong body of work in terms of posture, capabilities, operational concepts working closely with allies and partners in terms of what we’re doing in response.”
“We believe deterrence is real and deterrence is strong, and we’re working every day to keep it that way,” Ratner said. (Source: U.S. DoD)
24 Oct 23. DOD Officials Detail Department’s Goals in Middle East. America’s efforts in the Middle East are in support of Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorism and to contain the violence, senior defense officials said today.
The officials, speaking on background, discussed U.S. efforts in the Middle East as conflict continues to blaze in Gaza.
“As we’ve communicated previously, the U.S. remains committed to ensuring the security and well-being of its allies and partners, particularly in the face of escalating threats across the region,” a senior defense official said.
Part of this commitment are the changes Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III ordered in U.S. defense posture in the region.
Austin ordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. This is in addition to the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group that will remain in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The secretary also ordered the deployment of a terminal high-altitude area defense battery and additional Patriot battalions to the region. These assets and personnel will to enhance U.S. force protection in the region.
Finally, “an additional number of forces have been placed on prepare-to-deploy orders to increase their readiness and ensure rapid response if required,” the official said. “These measures are critical to bolstering regional deterrence efforts, safeguarding our troops and assisting in the defense of Israel.”
The deployment of the carrier strike groups to the region sends a clear message to all parties in the Middle East.
“Our carrier strike groups give us the ability to launch operations independently, anywhere in the world and immediately upon arrival,” the official said. “When we send them somewhere, we are deliberately sending an incredibly strong signal to our adversaries, but also to our allies and partners about the depth of our support, and the ability of the U.S. military to expeditiously, dynamically respond to contingencies anywhere in the world.”
The groups provide a wide range of support from intelligence collection to maritime dominance to long-range strikes. This is a strategic move to show American support “not only to the region, but also to support Israel, and its right to defend itself from the brutal Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks,” the official said.
These naval assets and the earlier deployment of fighter jets to the region are deterrence in the flesh. “Our advice to those who might seek to exploit the situation or amplify the conflict is simple: Don’t,” the official said.
The military capabilities and personnel in the region always retain the right of self-defense, the official said. Attacks will be answered decisively “at a time and place of our choosing.”
The official also addressed the humanitarian aspects of the Hamas terror attack. “The loss of innocent lives, including U.S. citizens, Israeli civilians and Palestinian civilians is truly heartbreaking,” the official said. “We have worked across the board from the White House to the State Department to the Defense Department to prioritize civilian protections and safety, as well as ensure the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza over the weekend.”
Civilians should not be deliberately targeted. “Our partner, Israel, is a law-abiding country obligated to adhere to the law of armed conflict,” the official said. “Hamas — a terrorist organization — did not, does not, and continues to deliberately target civilians and hold civilians hostage.”
Iran and Iranian proxy groups remain roadblocks to peace in the region. Hamas is a proxy group of Tehran as is Lebanese Hezbollah and many groups operating in Syria and parts of Iraq. U.S. personnel in Syria and Iraq have been targets and the USS Carney, a U.S. destroyer operating in the Red Sea, foiled cruise missile and suicide drone attacks last week.
“We see a prospect for a more significant escalation against US forces and personnel in the near term,” the official said. “And let’s be clear about it – the road leads back to Iran. Iran funds, arms, equips and trains militias and proxy forces all across the region.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
23 Oct 23. Centcom-Bound Defense Systems Convey Deterrence Message.
This weekend, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III directed an array of additional U.S. military capability to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in order to bolster the ability of American forces there to better defend themselves.
“We are going to do everything we need to do to ensure that our forces are protected,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a meeting today with the Pentagon press corps. “As always, we maintain the inherent right to self defense.”
Among the capabilities headed to the Middle East are the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery, also called THAAD, and additional Patriot missile battalions.
Additional U.S. troops were placed on “prepare to deploy orders,” as well, Ryder said.
He told reporters that Austin maintains continued communication with President Joe Biden and the national security team regarding the situation in Israel. Austin also talks regularly with his counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
“The focus of the department continues to be on supporting Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorist attacks, deterring a broader conflict in the region, and then ensuring force protection of our troops,” Ryder said.
On Oct. 7, terror group Hamas attacked the sovereign state of Israel, killing hundreds — including Americans. Fighting continues today between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces. Since the attack, the U.S. has reaffirmed its support for the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli people.
At the same time, the U.S. forces in the Middle East, including in Syria and Iraq, uninvolved in the conflict in Israel. The department remains concerned that some parties might hope to escalate the conflict in Israel to a larger conflict in the Middle East or to also use the opportunity to attack American forces in the region.
Ryder said the recent deployment of American military capabilities to the Centcom area of responsibility addresses those concerns.
“This is meant to be a deterrence message to those who would want to escalate this conflict into a wider regional conflict,” Ryder said. “We will do everything and take all necessary measures to protect U.S. forces and our interests overseas. No one wants to see a widening conflict, and that is our primary goal. But we will also never hesitate to protect our forces.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
23 Oct 23. Service Chiefs from US Navy, Royal Navy, and US Marine Corps Sign Revised Strategic Charter, Strengthening the Special Relationship. Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith embarked HMS Prince of Wales (PWLS) and met with Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Sir Ben Key to sign an updated strategic charter, Oct. 18.
The charter, known as “Delivering Combined Seapower” or DCS, is a bilateral tri-service strategic approach plan that supports cooperation, collaboration, and integration among U.S. and U.K. maritime services.
First signed in 2014, DCS was introduced to build and sustain interoperability between the U.S. and U.K. fleets.
The updated document includes a shared vision to enable the next level of interoperability the joint force requires, acceleration of U.S.-U.K. interchangeability, and underscores the collective dedication to safeguarding global maritime interests and promoting a rules-based international order.
“‘Delivering’ is the key word here,” said Franchetti. “The U.S. and U.K are providing real, operationally relevant capabilities that are making a difference on the oceans every single day. This document reflects the significant progress we’ve made since the original charter nine years ago and clearly articulates how we will advance and expand our interchangeability and deliver combined seapower going forward.”
Key emphasized the importance of this renewed alliance, “This Charter is testament to the enduring strength of the relationship between our navies and marines. By aligning our strategies and capabilities, we strengthen our ability to deter threats, respond to crises, and promote stability across the world’s oceans. This partnership will undoubtedly enhance our collective effectiveness, create opportunities to work ever more closely together, and promote our shared values.”
Although the U.S. Marine Corps has participated in U.S.- U.K. DCS Strategic Dialogues, this revision marks the first time the U.S. Marine Corps has been formally incorporated into the charter.
“I’m proud to be in this endeavor with Adm. Franchetti and Adm. Key,” said Smith. “Both countries’ Marines and Sailors have long-enjoyed a unique bond. We need to continue moving toward full interoperability, which includes maximizing our information sharing, training on each other’s platforms, and finding novel ways to integrate at the staff and warfighter level. This charter is a real step forward toward that goal.”
Throughout the days’ events the leaders observed a demonstration of F-35B operations onboard HMS PWLS, and discussed maritime strategies, warfighting concepts, and future force design.
The U.S. and U.K. naval forces regularly operate together around the globe, and Franchetti and Smith last met with Key in September at the 25th International Seapower Symposium in Newport, Rhode Island.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/USN)
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