When Lethality Isn’t Enough: The Army and the Missing Element of Combat Power

Modern War Institute | Jonathan Buckland

The United States Army faces a critical strategic fragility as its modernization initiatives prioritize weapon system lethality over operational availability, leaving advanced platforms vulnerable to disruption in peer conflicts. A 2025 Government Accountability Office report revealed that none of the service's major ground combat vehicles met operational availability objectives due to declining mission-capable rates.

This systemic vulnerability stems from a growing reliance on complex civilian contractor support, proprietary software diagnostics, and just-in-time supply chains that cannot survive contested environments. Historical precedents from World War II demonstrate that highly reliable, standardized platforms like the M4 Sherman consistently outperform over-engineered systems like the German Tiger tank in prolonged combat. Modern platforms like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and the Javelin antiarmor system risk single points of failure due to exquisite maintenance requirements. To mitigate these risks, the service requires a high-low capability mix, integrating disposable systems like the M72 LAW to ensure resilient, distributed combat power.

Comment

The Javelin anti-armour system's dependency on the reusable Command Launch Unit exposes the vulnerability of precision-guided munitions to localized maintenance bottlenecks. Unlike disposable alternatives, these electro-optical units require specialized diagnostic software and battery management protocols vulnerable to electronic warfare disruption. This reliance on centralised depot-level support rather than field-level component replacement risks leaving infantry platoons with unusable missile stockpiles during prolonged engagements.

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