Heavy armor in the future security environment
By: David E. Johnson
Contributors: Arroyo Center; Rand Corporation
Series: Occasional paper -- OP-334-A; Occasional paper (Rand Corporation) -- OP-334-A
Publisher: RAND
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Santa Monica, CA
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9780833059703
Subjects: Armored troops; Military Armored vehicles; United States. Army
Description: The U.S. Army is under pressure to demonstrate a valid need for heavy brigade combat teams in the future security environment -- an environment in which many believe that such units will be largely irrelevant. Do heavy armored forces have a place in the U.S. military of the future? The paper examines the capabilities of irregular, state-sponsored hybrid, and state adversaries in the context of recent experiences in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, and Lebanon. It concludes that heavy armored vehicles have been key enablers for light and medium armored forces engaged in irregular warfare and that they are the only vehicles able to maneuver on the battleground when adversaries have standoff weapons. To minimize future risk and cost, the author therefore recommends that the United States base much of its future capabilities on heavy armored forces that can scale down to confront irregular adversaries and serve as a hedge against challenges presented by a very complex and lethal future security environment.
Notes: Caption title.

"Arroyo Center."

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available online in PDF format from Rand Corporation web site. Adobe Acrobat Reader required.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: The contributions of heavy forces across the range of potential adversaries; title: Minimizing the risk posed by future challenges; title: Recommendation.