美国空军大学多域战问题研究
Foreign military sales (FMS) for 2022 through the end of June, in terms of U.S. dollar value, have now surpassed the total value of FMS for the entirety of 2021. The drop in volume, in terms of dollars, between 2020 and 2021 was the greatest drop in recent memory. The climb again so far in 2022 is a signal this year will be a more typical year in terms of arms sales value.
The United States government’s reaction to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 led to dramatic increases in Pentagon funding and revenues for weapons contractors. While the costs and consequences of America’s war policies of the twenty-first century have been well-documented, the question of who has profited from this approach has received less attention. Corporations large and small have been, by far, the largest beneficiaries of the post-9/11 surge in military spending. Since the start of the war in Afghanistan, Pentagon spending has totaled over $14 trillion, one-third to one-half of which went to defense contractors.2 Some of these corporations earned profits that are widely considered legitimate. Other profits were the consequence of questionable or corrupt business practices that amount to waste, fraud, abuse, price-gouging or profiteering.
For the first time, because of the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sustained challenges noted in past reports, our Vital Signs study has scored the health of the defense industrial base below a passing grade. As this report reflects the challenging environment in which defense companies operate — rather than the companies themselves — this score serves as a wake-up call to all who care about the state of our national security. While the COVID- 19 pandemic continues, so does the critical work of the defense industry. The pandemic reinforces the fact that our defense industrial base is not isolated from the American economy or the global business environment: now, more than ever, we must pay heed to the health of our base as it serves our warfighters.
In an era of renewed great power competition, it is imperative that the military maintain its technical superiority across its suite of defense capabilities. Continued overmatch requires addressing the integral role microelectronics play in both legacy and emerging weapon systems. Fielded systems need to be upgraded to leverage more modern microelectronics in response to new threats, obsolescence, or the lack of fabrication facilities for purpose-built components requiring replacement. Scientists and engineers need to utilize commercial semiconductor technology to the greatest extent possible to meet unique war fighting demands as new systems are developed, tested, and operationalized
