“Iranian attacks against U.S. military bases in the Middle East, including recently in Jordan, highlight the growing threat from adversary missiles and drones.
Yet the U.S. isn't sufficiently prepared to defend its overseas bases, critical infrastructure and personnel. U.S. sites across the Pacific are particularly vulnerable to Chinese and North Korean attacks -- as are U.S. locations in the Middle East. The choice before Congress and the Pentagon is clear: Spend the money now to protect these facilities or face a much more serious problem in the future.
Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, Iran has conducted more than 2,000 air, missile and drone strikes across the Middle East, damaging at least 20 sites in eight countries used by the U.S. military. Iran has so far caused as much as $13 billion to the U.S. alone in equipment losses and facility damage. In total, Iran has damaged or destroyed more than 42 U.S. military aircraft, several of which were parked on air bases.
The recent Iranian strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan killed three U.S. soldiers and damaged airfield hangars and other infrastructure. In Qatar, the U.S. Combined Air Operations Center has sustained severe damage. Iranian strikes wounded U.S. personnel and damaged aircraft in Saudi Arabia. In Bahrain, Iran hit the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, radar, satellite communications dishes and warehouses. Iran also targeted U.S. aircraft hangars and satellite communications systems in Kuwait. In addition, Iran and its partner forces targeted the U.S. Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, as well as the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, among others.
U.S. infrastructure's vulnerability to these sorts of strikes shouldn't have been a surprise. Since the full-scale conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022, advancements in drone and missile warfare have pushed both Ukraine and Russia to take extensive steps to protect bases and critical infrastructure. Ukraine significantly increased its deployment of surface-to-air missile systems, counterdrone systems, electronic warfare and sensors to detect, shoot down or jam incoming projectiles. Ukraine has also built physical barriers to protect against Russian strikes, including antidrone netting and layers of concrete. It has even dug underground facilities for critical infrastructure such as command-and-control headquarters and defense factories.
The U.S. has been too slow to learn from the conflict in Ukraine and protect its bases and other infrastructure in the Middle East. The challenge in the Pacific is much greater.
China presents a more serious threat than Iran with a larger and more capable stockpile of drones and cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
U.S. military bases and other infrastructure across the Pacific -- from Japan and the Philippines to Guam and South Korea -- are highly vulnerable to Chinese and North Korean missiles and drones.
The U.S. needs to get serious about protecting its critical infrastructure. The first urgent step is increasing active defenses, which include air-defense systems that can identify, shoot down or otherwise disrupt incoming missiles and drones. Examples include upper-range systems like Patriot air-defense systems, which are already in short supply; medium-range systems such as the Indirect Fire Protection Capability system for cruise missiles; and short-range systems such as the Coyote and Merops system to counter drones. In addition, directed-energy weapons, such as high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems, can be useful against incoming drones. So can radio-frequency jamming and electronic warfare systems.
Also important is ramping up passive defenses, such as digging underground facilities for vital infrastructure.
Netting and wire meshes around infrastructure can be useful against drones, and hardened shelters can help protect resources that have to be on the surface, such as aircraft, fuel, personnel and equipment. High-density and layered concrete barriers can be useful around ground systems, power-generation units, ammunition storage facilities and barracks.
The U.S. also needs to ramp up its use of camouflage, concealment and deception, as both Iran and Ukraine have done. Appropriate steps might include building and deploying decoys that look like Patriot air-defense systems or fighter jets to draw enemy fire. Finally, the U.S. needs to disperse facilities, such as naval and air bases, to make it more difficult for adversaries to attack.
Congress should boost the Pentagon's facilities sustainment, restoration and modernization funds to address these gaps -- and the Pentagon should spend it quickly.
The U.S. has already paid a huge price for being unprepared in a world where drones and missiles are ubiquitous.
Will the U.S. military learn before the price escalates? The Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans and Russians are waiting to see.
---
Mr. Jones is president of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and author of "The American Edge: The Military Tech Nexus and the Sources of Great Power Dominance."” [1]
Hamas is still in tunnels and having fun with Mr. Netanyahu from Israel. This is the only way to live now. We are back to caves.
1. America's Military Is Dangerously Exposed. Jones, Seth G. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 10 Aug 2026: A17.
Komentarų nėra:
Rašyti komentarą