THE '85 PERCENT SOLUTION'

摘要

The recent sharpening focus on climate change and the Arctic has revealed geographical and temporal dimensions: Greater areas of the region are now ice-free for longer periods of time during the year. This is creating challenges for the nation's "maritime guardian," the U.S. Coast Guard, as outlined in the service's 2013 Arctic Strategy: Numerous studies have examined national and Coast Guard shortfalls in the Arctic, from the need for additional icebreakers and long-range patrol vessels to improved communications and maritime domain awareness capabilities and aviation assets. There is no obvious or easy way to close these gaps. Until now. Effective, persistent presence is the foundation for virtually all operations in the Arctic (and elsewhere), but is unmet by the 2015 Coast Guard force structure. Too many jobs in too many areas of concern are stretching available resources. However, for enhanced Arctic situational and domain awareness, there might be an innovative and affordable "85 percent solution" based on the service's successful Legend-class national security cutters (NSCs). (See NSC characteristics in the accompanying chart.).