FAS

Innovation in Foreign Army Systems, & More from CRS

01.23.17 | 2 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

Several nations are independently pursuing development of ground combat weapon systems that are comparable or superior to their U.S. Army counterparts, says a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

Accordingly, there is a “possibility that in the not-too-distant future, foreign armored vehicle design and capabilities could surpass existing U.S. systems.”

Close study of those developments should help guide current U.S. modernization efforts, wrote CRS military analyst Andrew Feickert, and “may also lead to a conclusion that an entirely new combat vehicle will be required to address current and potential future threats.”

CRS did not conclude that there has been a “very sad depletion of our military,” as President Trump asserted in his inauguration speech. Nor does the CRS report present an argument that additional investment in ground combat systems would actually be the best use of defense budget dollars in particular, or of taxpayer dollars in general. See Selected Foreign Counterparts of U.S. Army Ground Combat Systems and Implications for Combat Operations and Modernization, January 18, 2017.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Overview of U.S. Sanctions Regimes on Russia, CRS Insight, January 11, 2017

The Islamic State and U.S. Policy, updated January 18, 2017

U.S.-Mexican Security Cooperation: the Mérida Initiative and Beyond, updated January 18, 2017

Rescission of the Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot Policy as to Aliens from Cuba Raises Legal Questions, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 18, 2017

Unaccompanied Alien Children: An Overview, updated January 18, 2017

Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues, updated January 17, 2017

What Can the New President Do About the Effective Dates of Pending Regulations?, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 18, 2017

Finding Medicare Enrollment Statistics, January 12, 2017

U.S. Manufacturing in International Perspective, updated January 18, 2017

An Overview of the Housing Finance System in the United States, January 18, 2017

EPA’s Mid-Term Evaluation of Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards, CRS Insight, January 17, 2017

Domestic Food Assistance: Summary of Programs, updated January 11, 2017

Climate Change Litigation Update: “Children’s Crusade” Case Against the United States Goes Forward, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 17, 2017

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Resources for Frequently Asked Questions, updated January 17, 2017

Digital Trade and U.S. Trade Policy, updated January 13, 2017

Health Benefits for Members of Congress and Designated Congressional Staff, updated January 13, 2017