Combat vehicles: fix or buy new?

• Position: Defense Insider

The traditional approach to updating US. military hardware is no longer working for the Army and the Marine Corps as they seek replacements for their combat vehicles, said a study by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. In the face of shrinking budgets, it might make more sense for the military to invest in science and research, rather than rush to procure vehicles that may not deliver a significant leap in technology, the study said. Sinking too much money into a program today could be too risky considering the Army's track record of making the wrong technological bets.

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One reason for the military to hold off on buying new vehicles is that there are no technological silver bullets to make military trucks, tanks and personnel...