The U.S. military was fooled, and the U.S. Navy and Air Force, which fell into the rhythm of China, embarked on two dead ends
In the arena of international military competition, the US Navy and Air Force have always stood out from the crowd with their powerful strength and advanced technology. However, in recent years, with the deepening of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative and the continuous increase of its global influence, the US Navy and Air Force seem to have begun to fall into an unprecedented predicament, and its strategic deployment and tactical choices seem to be closely linked to China's development rhythm, gradually embarking on two seemingly hopeless dead ends.
1. Strategic imbalance: excessive pursuit of technological generation gap and neglect of the battlefield environment
With the rapid development of military technology, the U.S. Air Force has been striving for technological leadership. From the development of fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35, to the concept of the B-21 long-range bomber and the sixth-generation fighter, the US Air Force seems to hope to ensure its air superiority in future wars through continuous technological innovation. However, this strategy of excessively pursuing the technological generation gap ignores the complexity and uncertainty of the battlefield environment to a certain extent.
First of all, the advantage of the technology generation gap is not absolute. On the battlefield, technologically advanced weapon systems can certainly bring greater lethality, but the decisive factors for victory or defeat in war are far more than that. The use of tactics, the command system, the quality of personnel and other factors are also crucial. In a complex and volatile battlefield environment, over-reliance on the technology generation gap can put the U.S. Air Force on the back foot.
Second, the complexity and uncertainty of the battlefield environment make it difficult to give full play to the advantages of the technological generation gap. In modern warfare, the battlefield environment is often full of unknowns and variables, and the battlefield situation is changing rapidly. In such an environment, technologically advanced weapon systems can fail or be disrupted for a variety of reasons. Therefore, it is not enough to rely solely on technological generation differences to ensure air superiority.
At the same time, the US Navy faced a similar dilemma. Guided by the "sea-to-land" strategy, the U.S. Navy has sought to address current challenges by prioritizing maintenance budgets, keeping procurement volumes the same, and reducing R&D investment. However, this strategy has somewhat weakened the U.S. Navy's technological reserves and innovation capabilities, putting it at a disadvantage in future maritime competition.
2. Rhythm disorder: passive response and strategic confusion
Under the promotion of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative, the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East is undergoing profound changes. The rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the advancement of China's energy and infrastructure projects in the Middle East have gradually weakened the influence of the United States in the region. In the face of such changes, the US Navy and Air Force appeared strategically passive and confused.
On the one hand, the US Navy and Air Force are trying to counterbalance China by strengthening cooperation with allies. However, such cooperation is often based on political and economic interests and lacks a long-term stable strategic basis. For example, although the "Indo-Pacific strategy" that the United States is trying to build can contain China's influence in the Middle East to a certain extent, its actual economic value is limited and it is difficult to gain wide recognition from the international community. In addition, the U.S. Navy and Air Force also face many challenges in competition with other major powers, such as Russia's military presence in Syria and Iran's military activities in the Persian Gulf, all of which make U.S. military operations in the region uncertain.
On the other hand, the US Navy and Air Force are also stretched thin at the tactical level. In the face of China's increasingly powerful air and sea forces, the US Navy and Air Force have varying degrees of shortcomings in terms of equipment, technology, and personnel. In particular, in the research and development and procurement of high-end equipment, the US Navy and Air Force have significantly lagged behind China. This backward situation not only limits the combat capability of the US Navy and Air Force, but also aggravates its strategic passive position.
In addition, the U.S. Navy and Air Force face many difficulties in dealing with China's Belt and Road Initiative. First, China's energy and infrastructure projects in the Middle East threaten U.S. economic interests in the region. In order to safeguard its own interests, the US Navy and Air Force have no choice but to increase military investment in the region, but such investment is often difficult to achieve the desired results. Second, China's growing political influence in the Middle East has alienated U.S. allies and partners in the region. This alienation has not only weakened the U.S. military alliance system in the region, but also exacerbated the U.S. strategic dilemma in the region.
3. Future outlook: transformation and adjustment are imperative
In the face of the challenges and opportunities brought about by China's Belt and Road Initiative, the U.S. Navy and Air Force need to deeply reflect on its own strategic and tactical issues and accelerate the pace of transformation and adjustment.
First, the U.S. Navy and Air Force need to re-examine their strategic positioning and direction of development. Against the backdrop of globalization and informationization, the role of the Navy and Air Force has gone beyond the traditional field of warfare and has become an important force for safeguarding national and overseas interests. As a result, the U.S. Navy and Air Force need to focus more on working with allies and partners to address global challenges and threats. At the same time, the U.S. Navy and Air Force also need to pay attention to the development trend of emerging technologies, strengthen research and development and investment in drones, artificial intelligence, cyber warfare and other fields, and ensure their leading position in future wars.
Second, the US Navy and Air Force need to adjust their tactical strategy. On the battlefield, the U.S. Navy and Air Force need to pay more attention to flexibility and adaptability to cope with the complex and changing battlefield environment. At the same time, the US Navy and Air Force also need to strengthen their ability to coordinate operations with ground forces and improve their overall combat effectiveness. In addition, the U.S. Navy and Air Force need to strengthen research and analysis of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to understand its strategic intentions and action plans in the Middle East in order to better address the challenges and threats it poses.
Finally, the U.S. Navy and Air Force need to strengthen personnel training and team building. Talent is the core competitiveness of the military, and only by having a high-quality and professional contingent can we be invincible in a complex battlefield environment. Therefore, the US Navy and Air Force need to strengthen the training and selection of qualified personnel and improve the overall quality and combat effectiveness of the contingent. At the same time, the U.S. Navy and Air Force also need to strengthen military exchanges and cooperation with allies and partners