It was a small item Asia Times– and yet it was not small at all. Chinese scientists have announced a breakthrough in an advanced military surveillance device designed to expand China’s electronic warfare capabilities to detect and disrupt enemy signals at unprecedented speed – using technologies previously thought unattainable.
Other examples of China’s ambitions include its demonstrated ability to penetrate some of the most sensitive computer systems in the United States, plans to launch more than 1000 satellites achieve space dominance in the next decade and develop advanced hypersonic missiles ready for deployment.
In today’s rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, the United States finds itself in a race against time. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has emerged as a formidable competitor and potentially dangerous adversary on many fronts and in many areas, and at the heart of it all is China’s relentless pursuit of technological dominance.
China is poised to use this dominance not only to achieve its long-term goal of returning Taiwan to the Chinese mainland, but also to establish itself as the dominant power in the Indo-Pacific region—and from that base to challenge the United States on who will establish power in the Indo-Pacific region. rules of global order in the post-Cold War world.
In an era of great power competition and the specter of a new Cold War, we cannot afford to become complacent. The challenge to our national security is urgent.
The goal is to prevent conflict with China and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Effective deterrence requires greater speed, deeper innovation, and greater cooperation than exists today.
To stay ahead, we must take a vigorous, national approach to harness the significant strengths of the private sector. “Peace through Strength,” President Ronald Reagan’s brilliant articulation of the problem in the late 20th century, must also be “Peace through Speed” in the context of the 21st century.
Military superiority is no longer determined solely by the size of our arsenal and the size of our forces. The battlefield of the future will also be defined by communications, cyberspace, artificial intelligence, hypersonics and other new technologies whose development cycles are based on quarterly, monthly or even weekly updates.
The private sector is inherently designed to create, implement, and implement innovation quickly. Think about how quickly consumer electronics such as smartphones are evolving. We can update our personal devices every year to keep up with the latest advances. Why should our approach to national security be different?
To help our country compete quickly, American businesses must get out of the game. Industry must both encourage dialogue between our country and China and help our country strengthen its defense capabilities so that this dialogue is productive. I’ve spoken with several tech executives who understand the gravity of the moment and are ready to join a national approach.
A critical part of this transformation lies directly with the federal government. Speed was less important in past detection systems because large weapons platforms were built to last for decades. We still fly the B-52 bomber almost 70 years after it was first introduced, and the carrier is designed to last 50 years.
A redesigned procurement system will create incentives for industry to achieve results faster, adapt commercial technologies more quickly for government use, and invite companies to invest differently than they do today.
If American business is to survive this moment and win, then the same, if not more profound, transformation must occur throughout the private sector on three fronts.
First, we must be willing to unapologetically talk about and prioritize national security and communicate this to our teams. You might be surprised at how much this resonates in our country: for every employee who might disagree, there are dozens or even hundreds (including every veteran and every immigrant I talk to) who will want to join this mission.
Second, it is critical that we invest aggressively, even in the absence of full budget clarity, to ensure solutions scale quickly. While political dysfunction in Washington creates unnecessary obstacles, successful companies know how to skillfully navigate and mitigate problems. Certain political risks can be minimized, especially when technologies such as cybersecurity and space communications are naturally strengthened by dual use in both the private and public sectors.
And third, we must come together across traditional boundaries to co-create solutions that none of our companies can achieve alone. We started doing this with several technology companies. It’s hard to work together differently, especially with competitors, but the benefits are obvious to me: I see the innovation cycle shortened from years to months and even weeks.
When the private sector joined the arsenal of democracy in World War II and moved from making cars, refrigerators and children’s toys to tanks, ships and aircraft engines, our fighters became better supplied and better equipped and won the war. The industry has transformed for the greater good.
Bringing lasting peace to the Indo-Pacific requires another such transformation, and Booz Allen is committed to moving forward with other like-minded companies. We stand ready to support our country and government in new and innovative ways to meet this moment and create a pattern of cooperation that can go beyond national security—on climate, infrastructure, and health.
By harnessing the ingenuity of the private sector and partnering with our government in new ways, we can achieve peace through speed, rising together as a nation to usher in a new era of peace and stability for future generations. The time to act is now.
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