Defence force modernization in asia

Abstract

Most of the academic literature about Asia’s defence mod-emization has tended to focus—in a rather alarmist way— on the details of the acquisition of military platforms. Discussion has tended to centre on whether there is an arms race in the region and if power projection forces are being acquired. This article takes a different view: It discounts the arms race and power projection theses, whilst acknow¬ledging that there are competitive elements of the arms build-up and an increasing capacity to extend military reach. But the most important finding is that there are—and are likely to be over the next decade — serious deficiencies in the military capabilities of most Asian defence forces. These deficiencies reside principally in information warfare, maintenance and integrated logistic support, and joint force doctrine. And they are more pronounced in Southeast Asia than elsewhere in Asia. Unless they are rectified, these weaknesses will undermine combat effectiveness seriously. Show more