Gates Pushes For Simpler, Cheaper Weapons

(CBS/AP)  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the pirate drama over the last week helps prove his point about why the Pentagon should change its weapon-buying habits.

Gates says the Pentagon should make do with more affordable ships, planes and such that get the job done even if they are not perfect. Gates told the Air Force War College Wednesday that the successful killings of three Somali pirates last week shows that the military doesn't need a billion-dollar ship to chase down a group of teenage pirates.

Gates is touring war colleges this week, selling his plan to reorder the Pentagon budget. He wants to cancel some big programs and scale back others.

Earlier this month, Gates recommended halting production of the F-22 fighter jet and scrapping a new helicopter for the president as he outlined deep cuts to many of the military's biggest weapons programs.

Gates said his $534 billion budget proposal represents a "fundamental overhaul" in defense acquisition and reflects a shift in priorities from fighting conventional wars to the newer threats U.S. forces face from insurgents in places such as Afghanistan.

[pensacola8-2009]

I agree with Secretary Gates recommendation to cancel the F-22.

The JSF program was created to produce two versions of the same aircraft that would serve to replace the F-18 and the Harrier. The Hover version of the JSF simply doesn't hover as the Harrier it intends to replace, because of a fundamental design flaw, and is simply inferior to the Harrier.

The US Air Force would get more bang for their bucks by re-opening their F-16 plant in Fort Worth and producing them in cheaper and bigger quantities. It is a tactical fighter that actually had a NAVY version which was superior to the A-6 Intruder which has been replaced by the F-18 - an ineffective dinosaur that is too lunky and bulky too fly a mission in a tactical environment.

The Harrier is a superior aircraft that flies with payload limitations, but flies with agility that only a few other aircraft can duplicate. The British Pavnia Tornado needs to be considered for US Marine service with some modifications.

Smaller aircraft with single engine operation are simply more tactical. Two engine aircraft were created in the Cold War for strategic needs that no longer exist.

Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers are proving to be COLD WAR relics that serve no useful purpose in tactical theatres. These are new, but too big, like the Iowa Class Battleships which were awesome, but impractical for today's needs.

The Navy Submarine Fleet is proving to be a drain that trace their existance fom cold war era policies. The Nuclear Capable Navy Fleet will be disappearing soon.

In envision a reversal of weapons developement budgets to fall back into parity with actual needs, based upon the recent success in thawing cold war relations.

[quapawsix]

It's about time some one in the pentagon figured it out. You can't keep blowing up mud shacks with million dollar ordinances for ever before you bankrupt the piggy bank. And I'm no Patton but it seems to me the only way to deal with Afghanistan is by putting troupes an the ground wit free reign to cross borders in conjunction with that countries armed forces all sides working together and with good communications is the only way. Give the bad guys no where to run and no place to hide. Then at the same time you have to convince the Muslim people that you are not here as crusaders that is going to be a hard sale. There is one other thing we probably should do Get the Hell out, if the surrounding Countries decide to close their air space and our bases how will we supply the forces on the ground? And just how stable are these Muslim Countries and what is the cost of their loyalty to the U.S. This is Custer's Last Stand looking to happen.

[Dgunner]

I had rather take my chances in a 77 amc matador with a top turrent than the hv.For all the yougans reading this ask your parents about the matador.

[mystaphy]

Simplier, Cheaper, weapons? Why ais the police force more important than the military. Simpiler and cheaper means its not going to work and more soldiers are going to die. I am in the military and I dont see why we cant have the same equipment as the police and swat and everybody else who gets smaller and more effective equipment. Shoot let the soliders buy their own equipment some of them may feel safer knowing that their equipment works because its theirs and they will take care of it better. I wouldnt mind buying my own body armor and a weapon that doesnt take up half my size. I'm only 5'2 and carrying around an M-16 is harder for those who arent average hieght. Either Spendthe money or let the soldiers spend the money on their own body armor and weapons

[ppassit]

Never said the HV replaced the Jeep. What I said was these systems we spend our (I mean mine since you are a lib) tax $$ cost money because they are tested to very high standard to protect our troops... They would be much cheaper if the military did not test as much. Funny thing is, our military actually likes it when our sailors, soldier and airman actuaully survive in the equipment provided to them. Humvee was brought to field too fast to replace the jeep, and without the "up" armored variant. That is why IED's were so effective against it. Where have you been the last 8 yrs?

[ppassit]

How would like it if you were the guy in the tank tha "might stop an ememy round" or a Ship that "might "survive a torpedo attack...there is a reason these system cost. Look what happen to the humvee. Low cost, bring to the field fast equals troops get killed faster. easy to say spend less when you are not the guy getting shot at.

[Questionews]

Great! Now we just need to negotiate with the Chinese as to what these new weapons will cost us!

[onesword]

Agreed.
Posted by sdemaggie at 3:32 PM

Totally. No argument from me.

[cbsblogger]

This Robert Gates guy makes sense. Get back to basics instead of making trillions for defense contractors. The USA spends far too much on defense (or is it offense?) against nation states. It should be effective means to defend against individual terrorists and criminals. Availability of too many toys results in those who have them figuring out a way to use them.

[sdemaggie]

Agreed.