Comparing U.S. Army Systems with Foreign Counterparts: Identifying Possible Capability Gaps and Insights from Other Armies

Abstract : The project s title, Comparing U.S. Army Systems with Foreign Counterparts: Identifying Possible Capability Gaps and Insights from Other Armies, demonstrates the focus of this effort: to compare selected U.S. Army programs with their counterparts in a number of other armies around the world. As an organizing principle, the Army s warfighting functions were selected as a way of bounding and focusing the research. Warfighting functions include movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, mission command, and protection. During the course of the project, various areas of particular interest were selected in conjunction with the needs of the sponsor in order to better focus the research. For example, within the warfighting function of movement and maneuver, it was decided to concentrate on examining armored fighting vehicles and helicopters. Given the very broad range of topics that had to be covered in this project, a decision was made in conjunction with the sponsor to conduct an overview of selected foreign systems and to focus on unclassified sources. Classified sources were periodically consulted during the research, and, when appropriate, classified insights were directly provided to the sponsor. Importantly, this report is based entirely on unclassified, open-source information. A number of foreign armies were selected for the comparisons. In some cases those armies are U.S. allies, while in other cases the army used for the comparison is a potential future competitor. Although the research was primarily focused on comparing the capabilities of material systems, such as armored fighting vehicles, logistics systems, and helicopters, within a warfighting function, crosscutting insights were developed where possible. Additionally, although the research focuses on material systems, where possible other implications for the U.S. Army in the areas of doctrine, training, and leader development were observed and highlighted.