Additionally, the perception that America is reluctant to accept high mortality rates in combat will make high casualty weapons, such as biological agents, especially attractive to our enemies. Our future enemies' resources. While a nuclear arsenal requires massive investments and a sophisticated and capable military infrastructure to support it, an opponent does not need to be a superpower to have a biological warfare capability. Biological weapons are inexpensive and accessible. A small pharmaceutical industry or even moderately sophisticated university or medical research laboratory can generate a significant offensive capability.
Delivery can be by warheads on missiles, but also by means as simple as a crop sprayer.
While these figures are outdated, the relative orders of magnitude they suggest are still quite valid. Our blind spots. Our current vulnerabilities to BW are substantial. The history of the absorption of technology into the operational and warfighting capabilities of the Department of Defense suggests one reason for this blind spot. But, as Prof. Beyerchin notes, this framework does not include events that led to the development and integration of biologists with the Pentagon.