Less Bang for the Buck

According to Strategypage, the US defense budget is getting larger, while procurement of new weapons is getting smaller. In fact, spending has approached Cold War levels during the reagan admisnistration, and if you count supplemental spending for the War on Terror, it actually surpasses it. Read the article:


Not many new tanks, warplanes or combat ships are being built, as everyone continues to live off the Cold War surplus. Many countries want to build new stuff, but everything has gotten so much more expensive. That’s because computers and powerful sensors and all manner of nifty technology provide most of the lethality in new weapons. Build the old style weapons, and you’re just providing expensive targets for those with the most modern weapons. Even your basic $500 assault rifle becomes far more lethal when you add several thousand dollars worth computerized accessories. Countries are spending more on defense, but they aren’t buying the same kind of stuff they were two decades ago.

I was a big supporter of the Reagan buildup, which actually doubled spending from 1980-1988, until I actaully witnessed what little was purchased for the money. Actually very little "extra" was bought, the money mainly went to comlpete programs already underway, such as the MX missile, the B-2 bomber, and various Navy and Army projects. Thankfully though, it was enough.