Says Recent Russian Hostilities Show Clear Need For Buildup

It's not clear yet who the next US President will be... but the Aerospace Industries Association already has a briefing paper ready for the next occupant of the White House.

Regardless of whether Barack Obama or John McCain takes up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. next January, the AIA says they must launch a multi-billion-dollar, decade-long military modernization drive... or face a loss of US ability to protect its interests worldwide.

The AIA is a trade group representing major defense contractors, and released its report on Wednesday. The group says weapons modernization has been "chronically deferred," despite recent defense spending increases.

"America is at a crossroads," AIA states in its report, titled "Defense Modernization: Today's Choices for Tomorrow's Readiness," reports Reuters. "If we want to be able to influence events and protect our interests overseas, we must revitalize the 'arsenal of democracy' through consistent defense investment.

"We view the decade of 2010-2019 as critical because many of our currently deployed and mainline defense and aerospace systems will be reaching the end of their useful service lives during this period," the group writes.

A trend highlighted in the report is growing operational costs, which the group says is squeezing investment in new systems downward. AIA says operations, maintenance and personnel expenses are taking a growing share of the Defense Department's base budget. The group says that budget currently stands at 3.1 percent of US gross domestic product, but needs to be raised four percent.

"The bill is now due," the report said. "Either we commit to a decade-long defense recapitalization and modernization, or we resign ourselves to a diminutive role on the world stage."

Marion Blakey, who segued from the end of her term as FAA Administrator to become AIA's president and CEO last year, said Russia's invasion of Georgia supports the report's underlying premise.

"We can't predict where future conflicts will arise but our national security strategy should be based on full-spectrum dominance," Blakey said.

FMI: www.aia-aerospace.org