Russia still poses traditional challenges in the land power competition with the US, with the establishment of mechanized forces that could threaten the US in the Baltic region, and many modern weapons such as missiles. long-range ballistics, artillery and surface-to-air missiles.

Meanwhile, a hypothetical conflict between the US and China would focus on controlling the waters and airspace in the Pacific. To maintain the balance of power, the US military needs to deploy long-range anti-ship missiles and helicopters to remote islands, as well as the territories of allies like Japan, Korea, even on the decks of Navy ships.

Most of the US Army’s main land-based combat systems were put into operation in the 1980s or earlier, so they are quite old. The US has launched five ambitious programs to replace old armored vehicles, artillery and helicopters with a total cost of about 30 billion USD, but all have failed.

In 2017, the U.S. Army established eight multi-functional teams led by brigades commanders, tasked with rapidly developing a new generation of weapons, at an affordable price.

Long range precision artillery shells

The U.S. Army is known for using its elite artillery force to quickly and accurately support attacks during World War II. However, in recent conflicts, the US has increasingly dependent on air strikes using precision strike weapons instead of artillery forces.

Air support will not be possible if the enemy army possesses formidable air defense systems. In this case, it is necessary to launch attacks with artillery shells and long-range missiles to destroy the air defense system, creating conditions for fire support from the air.

Therefore, the top priority of the US Army is “long-range precision fire”. There have been about six projects looking for weapons that can launch precision strikes from the mainland against targets tens or even hundreds of kilometers away.

At the first stage, the US Army sought to upgrade the M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, born in the 1960s, within the framework of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program, with a long barrel design that helped increase increase the attack range to nearly 70km.

Other “backbone” weapons of the artillery force, such as the M270 and M142 multiple launch rocket systems, will be integrated with longer-range missiles, increasing the range to nearly 150km.

After the cancellation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the US Army accelerated the development of two advanced long-range weapons, including hypersonic missiles with a range of more than 2,400 km, which are difficult to destroy. interceptors and possess superior anti-ship capabilities, along with the Long Range Strategic Cannon, which has a range of thousands of miles. With the new cannon, the US Army can attack targets such as bases, logistics networks and enemy air bases.

Next Generation Combat Vehicle

The Army’s second priority is to replace the increasingly obsolete and vulnerable M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Earlier in 2018, the Army decided to upgrade the powertrain of the M2 Bradley, but kept the turret.

Currently, the force is looking for an Optional Maneuverability Combat Vehicle (OMFV), which can operate unmanned, to replace Bradley. This “unmanned armored vehicle” model will have a 30 to 50mm automatic cannon, new missiles and an active protection system, capable of carrying larger armies than the M2 Bradley. At the request of the US Army, the deadline for US defense contractors to submit OMFV proposals is April 18, 2021. Arms companies such as Raytheon/Rheinmetall Lynx, General Dynamics Griffon III and the BAE CV-90 Mark IV are competing for this lucrative contract.

The Army is also installing active defense systems Trophy and Iron Fist on Abrams and Bradley tanks. This system is capable of detecting incoming missiles, jamming or shooting them down before they hit the tank. Long-range anti-tank missiles have destroyed hundreds of tanks in conflicts in the Middle East, so the APS active defense system can greatly increase the survivability of these tanks.

Vertical take-off aircraft

Helicopters are essential for battlefields and operations that require mobility. However, they are relatively expensive, slow (240 to 322 km/h), have a short range and are vulnerable to enemy fire. Therefore, the US Army is looking to the future “Vertical Takeoff Family” to replace more than 2,000 Blackhawk medium transport helicopters and Apache helicopters equipped with heavy weapons.

Currently, two new aircraft lines are participating in the competition: Bell Helicopter’s V-280 Valor helicopter and SB-1 Defiant helicopter developed by Sikorsky and Boeing.

The V-280 Valor is a dual-purpose tiltrotor helicopter that can fly at twice the speed of conventional helicopters and have a much wider range than today’s helicopters, with a larger cabin than UH helicopters. -60 25%.

SB-1 Defiant is a coaxial rotor helicopter, equipped with an additional propeller engine in the tail, capable of flying at a speed of 358 km / h.

Communication network

The US Army is now looking to build a C3I (Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence) network that connects to their land-based combat systems. Previously, the force abandoned efforts to build a $6 billion WIN-T (Warfighter Integrated Network – Tactical) network, realizing it could easily be infiltrated or disrupted by jamming devices. . The US Army intends to purchase pre-existing software to build the C3I network to save time and costs. The new network needs to be standardized while still ensuring flexibility and security.

The Army also established a task force tasked with developing navigation aids to make it easier for ground forces to operate in the event that the GPS is not working or is just in the wrong position.

Missile defense and air defense

Over the past half century, the development of the air force has led the US to cut funding for the construction of the army’s land-based air defense system. However, the threat of drone, cruise and ballistic missile attacks has made rebuilding air defenses a major priority.

The US Army is currently focusing on developing a “mobile short-range air defense” weapon system that helps frontline forces shoot down low-altitude targets. The Army plans to deploy an active eight-wheeler Strykers armored vehicle, armed with Stinger and Hellfire missiles, an anti-drone jammer and a 30mm cannon. In addition, this force also purchased more Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.

As for the long-range air defense system, instead of developing new types of missiles, the Army is spending billions of dollars upgrading two Patriot air defense systems and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. by integrating active electronic phased array radar and fire control system.