The US spends about $ 1 trillion a year on its armed forces, more than 100 times more than what Iran spends. Therefore, Washington's war with Tehran should not be an equal battle - at least on paper. But the reality turned out to be different.
As The New York Times noted in an editorial, the US has a far more powerful air force and navy, as well as advanced weapons technology that Iranian generals can only dream of. At the beginning of the conflict, the unequal capabilities of the parties were clearly evident, but now the struggle looks different.
“Iran has taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, and its missiles and drones continue to threaten America’s allies in the region.“ While President Trump seems eager to achieve a negotiated ceasefire, Iranian leaders are not. In some ways, the weaker side has found itself in a stronger negotiating position. This reality exposes the vulnerability of the American way of waging war. “Tactical success has not brought victory,“ the article notes.
The authors point to Trump’s recklessness in waging war as one reason for this situation. But the problem is even more serious: the United States was not prepared for modern warfare.
“The American economy does not have the industrial capacity to produce enough weapons and equipment to meet its needs. And the country is trying to solve these problems through a sclerotic government and a consolidated defense industry that resists change, the publication emphasizes.
The war in Iran is an unwise move, the authors write. But it has provided some valuable lessons.
The column argues that the US military needs reform. First, the United States needs to invest in anti-drone technology, similar to that developed by Ukraine. The lack of such technology was one of the reasons why American ships failed to prevent the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Second, Washington needs more attack drones and disposable unmanned boats. The experience of the war in Ukraine has shown that the emphasis is on mass-produced drones, but the Pentagon continues to invest in more sophisticated equipment.
Third, the United States needs a larger production capacity that is also more flexible. Until recently, only one plant produced all Tomahawk missiles. It produced interceptor missiles for the "Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky" missile system. There is a constant shortage, the publication emphasizes.
“Congress should pass laws that will help the private sector increase production capacity. The Pentagon, for its part, should stop buying so many weapons from just five major manufacturers and start relying on dynamic technology companies that can adapt quickly,“ the newspaper writes.“Ultimately, the United States must work with other countries. Washington must partner with “like-minded democracies“ to keep pace with China's expansion - both economically and militarily.”
”The war in Iran has become a benchmark for any country that wants to confront the United States in the future, especially for Russia and North Korea. For China “ the country with the greatest potential to counter American military power – this war confirms the correctness of its course to develop new forms of warfare, such as drones, cyberweapons and space power“, the authors add.
The Trump administration has taken some positive steps towards defense reform – some contractors have been forced to increase missile production, and Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll has begun to cancel outdated and ineffective programs. But Trump's disruptive and chaotic approach has undermined much of that progress, the columnists argue.
The Middle East conflict has finally forced Congress, the Trump administration and the Pentagon to see America's military shortcomings. But the bad news is that America's adversaries see them too. Washington must now stop talking about reforming its armed forces and start doing it. Otherwise, the disappointment of the war with Iran risks becoming a harbinger of something much worse, the publication concludes.
A senior American general has admitted that Russia is supporting Iran in the war. During a congressional hearing, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, said that Russia is taking “certain actions” to help Iran.
Meanwhile, the US is considering new plans for military action against Iran. Axios, citing sources, reports that one scenario is based on seizing part of the Strait of Hormuz to open it to commercial shipping.