The Impact of Weapons Technology on Military Strategy.

The United States overall developments in weapons technology has not kept abreast of the times since the termination of World War II. A tremendous savings in manpower, equipment and national resources could have been possible if the US Air Force had entered the Vietnam War with a variety of accurate and effective conventional weapons and penetration aids. In evaluating the influence of weapon technology on military strategy, this paper discusses three factors Soviet threat and challenge to Free World security U.S. concept of deterrence and the Soviet and US Views of limited war. It concludes that America must not become apathetic, but maintain its technological superiority over the Soviet Union. Further, that in order to counter national wars of liberation, consideration should be given to developing more effective conventional weaponry, while at the same time sustaining the much needed sophisticated deterrent nuclear forces in-being. Author