U.S. Capabilities Are Showing Signs of Rot

[Anonymous]

The US has lost European and Asian defense markets with this war. No one but the US can afford to use F-35s and it 50% readiness.

Let’s do the numbers - F-35 flown by the UK that shot down a drone cost $10,000.

F-35 4 hour patrol @ $33,000 an hour to flight. System used to down drone - ASRAAM $1.2 million each.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is very much a case of white guy DEI mediocrity. We HAD qualified people, they were just replaced by Trump-approved a$$ lickers. Between that and the fact that we build weapons systems to make people rich, our capabilities suffer.

So then DEI is actually bad, right?

It depends, but remaining maga just doesn’t understand it, which is fine, they don’t understand a lot of things. In real life it’s a tool, in the Trump administration it’s about not only replacing competent people with less competent white people, they have to dig further to bottom of the barrel to find the ones that are also loyal to Trump. Actually reverse that, it’s always white and loyal fisrt, competence is a “nice to have.”

Please choose literally anyone he’s appointed for evidence.

Anyone.

To be fair, the bench isn't that deep for most groups.

[Anonymous]

Ya think? Seems like there's a lot of rot going on in US capabilities while the Trump admin spends its time trying to "inflict trauma" on federal workers and cut budget for departments that work on intelligence, science and tech.

This is how empires fall.

[Anonymous]

DEI IS bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ya think? Seems like there's a lot of rot going on in US capabilities while the Trump admin spends its time trying to "inflict trauma" on federal workers and cut budget for departments that work on intelligence, science and tech.

This is how empires fall.

OP here and I agree.

But I think this extends beyond the Trump administration. We don't know how to conduct drone warfare - we had to ask the Ukranians for help. The military and IC endlessly talk about the future of war/future of intelligence, but never actually take steps to prepare for it. We still think we are preparing for a Cold War era war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ya think? Seems like there's a lot of rot going on in US capabilities while the Trump admin spends its time trying to "inflict trauma" on federal workers and cut budget for departments that work on intelligence, science and tech.

This is how empires fall.

OP here and I agree.

But I think this extends beyond the Trump administration. We don't know how to conduct drone warfare - we had to ask the Ukranians for help. The military and IC endlessly talk about the future of war/future of intelligence, but never actually take steps to prepare for it. We still think we are preparing for a Cold War era war.

Don't you remember that frightening display of force in last year's parade where a few soldiers were walking around with drones they got off Amazon?

[Anonymous]

Our military is ultimately going to reflect our culture unfortunately. We have an environment dominated by finance, MBAs, and lawyers. We just don't have an engineering or manufacturing culture at this point. China does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DEI IS bad.

That conversation doesn't belong here, but the conceptual principles underlying diversity, equity, and inclusion are anything but bad. There may have been strained applications of these principles, but they were never as bad as the phony principles the administration has decided need to replace it, especially insofar as the administration's principles are based on loyalty, period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s the whole defense contracting system. They over promise, underperform, exceed budgets and can’t manufacture what they make.

The US was known for logistics. Not anymore.

Look at the THAAD and Patriot systems. The defense contractors tested it and said 100% effective. Real life is like 25% and 0% against anything moving at March 4. They promised 600 a year for THAAD and delivered 96.

Thank you for sharing this. I am interested in learning more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the whole defense contracting system. They over promise, underperform, exceed budgets and can’t manufacture what they make.

The US was known for logistics. Not anymore.

Look at the THAAD and Patriot systems. The defense contractors tested it and said 100% effective. Real life is like 25% and 0% against anything moving at March 4. They promised 600 a year for THAAD and delivered 96.

Thank you for sharing this. I am interested in learning more

https://youtu.be/yogVg6GFSeQ?si=Y1qCz1wpL-sTR3On

https://www.youtube.com/live/nMjMz8yL_kk?si=QKO1A9IF5CbFxpIW

https://youtu.be/pJRmkd3H4DY?si=Uy9dM5UY34tsrkRE

The last two said this is what we would be facing 5-6 days ago.