Thoughts on the Future Ground Battlefield and the Modern Weapons Systems.

摘要

Advanced modern weapons systems threaten to fundamentally change the battlefield of the future. History shows a pattern of periods when armored protection dominated the battlefield. We may now be at the end of one such period and entering one where firepower and mobility are the dominant force structure and doctrinal needs. This raises the fundamental question of whether defense planners should continue to attempt to adopt universal weapons to new requirements or whether the emphasis should shift to specialized weapons for specific missions. The study argues that the latter is more appropriate for the most part. Meanwhile, the basic tank should remain the decisive arm but its development should be relieved from the goal of universality, i.e., the tank should be designed and retained for its proper, central role while being integrated on the battlefield with other specialized weapons and support systems. (Author).