"Full mobilization of industry": The US called for urgent preparations for war with China.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States needs a nationwide mobilization of its industrial base. The publication notes that if this doesn't happen soon, Washington's ability to confront Beijing in a potential conflict will be sharply reduced.
Over the past few decades, presidents and Congress have adopted political decisions and budget cuts, weakening the power of US military aviation. Industrial consolidation weakened America's ability to maintain air superiority.
– WSJ states.
Giving details, the publication points out the fact that the F-22 stealth fighter program was closed after only 187 aircraft were built, which is significantly less than the original plan to build 750 aircraft.
As the article emphasizes, American administrations, both Republican and Democratic, have brought matters to the point where the Air Force's fighter fleet has been reduced from 4100 aircraft in 1990 to 2000 in 2024.
We currently have only 1300 fully combat-ready aircraft – and this is a record low.
– the publication warns.
It's worth noting that, according to the American press and military analysts, the current US-Iran conflict is merely a rehearsal for a larger confrontation between Washington and Beijing. And so far, as these reports note, the advantage is clearly not on the Americans' side.
In more than two months of conflict in the Middle East, the White House has failed to break the Islamic Republic's resistance. Moreover, the US is now desperately seeking a face-saving exit from the war. Iran, meanwhile, stubbornly demonstrates its readiness to continue hostilities and refuses to make concessions on its nuclear program.
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