Status Updates From The Edge: Is the Military D...

As countries acquire nuclear weapons they do not necessarily buy complete immunity from Western military action, but they do move into a category in which a major confrontation would be possible only in the most extreme circumstances of National survival.

The Obama Policy

Avoid protracted action, avoid state opponents wherever possible and conduct strikes against the type of irregular or terrorists groups that might attack Americans.

In some ways a UAV is the exact opposite of a procurement like the F-35: it was bought quickly and very cheaply to do a defined job in a benign environment.

F-35 procured through concurrency.

Meaning, release for purchase with the intent for it or return to the shop for essential upgrades and developments.

On maintaining capabilities.

A full set of clubs was no longer affordable for small or medium-sized European countries. Of course, that’s all very well until a country finds itself metaphorically in the bunker with only a putter and a driving iron at its disposal.