Without budget increases, resources from other programs will have to be robbed to purchase new equipment. 31 Planes, ships and tanks acquired during the Reagan administration's buildup will begin to hit the end of their useful lives five or 10 years from now. To military experts, the term modernization often means lighter equipment. That's because future conflicts will likely require the U.S. to respond rapidly to developments in far corners of the world.
Lighter equipment facilitates rapid deployments.
They had hoped the first combat team would be equipped with the IAV by December 2001, but additional testing has set back the schedule 16 months. Already research is underway for a combat vehicle the Army hopes to have developed by 2010. Heavy tanks, which have been the Army's backbone for years, will be upgraded. For at least the next decade, the IAV will be the mainstay, not tanks. IAVs runs quieter and can transport a nine-man infantry squad at speeds up to 60 mph.