U.S. Airborne Forcible Entry Capability Is Rapidly Becoming Obsolete (We MustModernize Our Airborne Forces)

摘要

The 82d Airborne Division currently provides a unique forcible entry capabilityfor the U.S. Armed Forces. However, in light of the ability of potential adversaries to counter that capability in the future, the 82d is neither designed nor equipped to accomplish the forcible entry mission in the 21st Century. Unless modernized, the airborne division will soon be incapable of dealing with the developing mechanized and modernized Third World threats that are most likely to challenge future airborne forcible entry. The U.S. must commit to a modernization effort that will give it a worldwide deployable airborne force that can deal with these future threats and is not dependent on seizing and securing operational airfields. This modernization effort must provide tactical mobility for the airborne forces once inserted, increased lethality to deal with the future mechanization of the threats and survivability to withstand future artillery threats capable of delivering chemical, biological and nuclear munitions. The U.S. must pursue airborne modernization with the same vigor that it did over 25 years ago, when it began the modernization of its armored forces, the M1 Tank and the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Without the modernization of its airborne forces, the United States' airborne forcible entry capability will eventually become obsolete and the United States' ability to project CONUS-based forces will be in jeopardy.