The Death of the Revolution in Military Affairs

[MKSheppard]

The Congressional go ahead to commence production was given in 1987, when the Cold War didn’t appear to go anywhere.

Out of curiosity, did the congresscritters know what exactly they were voting for? Or was it "unspecified stealth bomber, will render all air defenses obsolete, costs x per copy" and nothing else?

[Sea Skimmer]

Out of curiosity, did the congresscritters know what exactly they were voting for? Or was it "unspecified stealth bomber, will render all air defenses obsolete, costs x per copy" and nothing else?

By 1987 the government had started giving away basic details, and top congressmen would have known something about it, but the aircraft wasn't publicly unveiled until 1988. Even the, if you've seen the pictures of the first rollout you can see that everything was arranged to still hide the most important bits of the plane, mainly the tailpipes. Had the B-2 not been a black program, which limited who could force changes on the design, it would have never worked.

[Zwinmar]

The main problem with the infantry stuff comes down to two words: "Fucking Batteries", they are always dead when you need them the most. You have to assume that "what can go wrong, will go wrong" rather than trying to use high tech bullshit to solve a precieved problem.

Air bursting 20mm weapon attachment sounds great...on paper. I personnally dont want to lug around a battery hog along with all the other gear I had to carry. One that would break the first time I sat on it wrong, or hit it on a tree, or drowned it in the water...etc..

High tech, does not mean better, which is something alot forget. Granted it may be better once fully developed ...usualy by the 3rd generation, if that.

[Sidewinder]

A lot of things were killed to pay for Shinkenski's Stryker Brigades which would have been "more revelant" in "the post cold-war" world.

I think you mean Eric Shinseki, former Army Chief of Staff.