Transportation and Logistics (Formerly Global Agility) May 31, 2024

Reinvigorating U.S. Transportation Infrastructure: Investing To Enable Power Projection, Underwrite National Security, And Maintain Advantage in Great Power Competition

The U.S. must reassess its transportation and logistics infrastructure, which supports both military and economic power. The system is fragmented, with uncoordinated investments and increasing foreign competition, particularly from China. This has weakened the U.S.'s ability to mobilize forces and respond to crises, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and infrastructure failures. To improve, the U.S. must invest in updating key infrastructure, address labor issues, and better coordinate with allies. A senior coordinator should be appointed to lead a long-term strategy, integrating technology, innovation, and partnerships to strengthen the U.S. logistics base.

Weapons (Formerly Munitions) May 31, 2024

Hypersonic and Directed Energy Weapons: Emerging Capabilities Necessary for Competition and Containment

Current global conflicts underscore significant shifts in modern warfare, particularly the rising costs of defending against small, affordable systems and the strategic advantage of undetected, on-demand strikes. In response, the U.S. is investing heavily in hypersonic and directed energy weapons. However, despite years of testing and billions of dollars spent, these technologies have yet to be deployed at scale. The Department of Defense (DoD) needs a cohesive strategy to effectively advance these initiatives, as current requirements are unclear, and development efforts have led to stalled progress. Additionally, the lack of collaboration with allies has resulted in underutilized resources and capabilities. To expedite the development and deployment of credible hypersonic and directed energy weapons, the DoD must establish centralized authorities and prioritize partnerships. These weapons are critical to maintaining U.S. technological superiority, especially as peer adversaries like China and Russia have developed similar capabilities. Emerging technologies, such as hypersonic and directed energy systems, are reshaping warfare, as demonstrated in the Ukraine and Israel conflicts, where low-cost drones overwhelm expensive kinetic interceptors. To enhance national and global security, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. must strengthen its deterrence strategies and leverage these advanced technologies. While these weapons offer strategic advantages, critics question their cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and overall utility, making the need for efficient and rapid development even more pressing.

Weapons: May 30, 2023

The Need for Speed: The Case for Continued Development of Hypersonic and Directed Energy Weapons

As the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and to a lesser extent Russia, rapidly develop and field hypersonic and directed energy weapons, the United States (US) faces a strategic military capabilities gap. The PRC’s arsenal of hypersonic weapons extends its anti-access area denial capabilities throughout the South China Sea, increasing the required standoff distances for US military forces to operate in a conflict safely. To prevent the PRC from reshaping the liberal world order, the US should continue to develop offensive and defensive hypersonic and directed energy weapons to complement its current arsenal while addressing defense industrial base issues, including infrastructure, supply chain, and human capital, and fostering cooperation with allies and partners.