The U.S. military is drawing up a new air-sea battle plan in response to threats such as China’s persistent military build-up and Iran’s possession of advanced weapons, according to the Pentagon’s latest strategy review known as the Quadrennial Defense Review.
China
China is developing and deploying “large numbers” of advanced missiles, new attack submarines, long-range air defense systems and capabilities to wage electronic warfare and target computer systems, according to the report, which echoes an assessment of China’s military power issued almost a year ago.
China’s refusal to provide adequate assurances of its intentions raises “a number of legitimate questions regarding its long-term intentions,” the Pentagon says in the review.
Iran
Iran is fielding small attack boats in the Persian Gulf, compounding the threat to naval operations from the acquisition by Iran and other nations of weapons such as quiet submarines and advanced cruise missiles that can target ships, according to the report.
Iran has provided drones and shoulder-fired missiles to the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Russia and other nations have contributed to the spread of surface-to- air missiles, the department said.
Surveillance & Reconnaissance
The Air Force is on schedule to increase its ability to operate round-the-clock combat air patrols to 50 sustained “orbits” or 24-hour combat flights by Predator and Reaper drones by fiscal 2011 and plans to expand that to 65 orbits by fiscal 2015, according to the report.
Cyber Operations
The report also mentioned that more expertise in the field of cyber operations and continued development of a cyber operations command is necessary.
SOURCES:
Bloomberg.com China, Iran Prompt U.S. Air-Sea Battle Plan in Strategy Review
GOVERNMENTEXECUTIVE.COM Defense review urges ‘more and better’ capabilities