The U.S. military lacks an accurate picture of its combat readiness due to outdated metrics and procurement systems, according to a new report by the General Catalyst Institute shared exclusively with Axios.
The report warns that current readiness assessments fail to account for real-world conditions across different theaters of conflict.
It argues that training or equipment that performs well in the United States may not be survivable in distant or contested battlefields.
Exclusive: U.S. must overhaul military readiness and tech metrics, report urges https://t.co/RBKTB7Xbqn
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Authors recommend creating a composite readiness index based on commander feedback, equipment performance in combat conditions, troop availability, and cross-service integration. Weapons systems that repeatedly underperform should be modernized or retired.
The report also calls for mandatory adversarial testing, stronger cyber and electronic warfare evaluations, and reforms to Pentagon contracting practices. It urges closer collaboration with private capital markets and equal investment in domestic production and innovation.
As President Donald Trump continues to press for a stronger and more lethal force, the authors argue that honest readiness data is essential for executing presidential and defense directives effectively.
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TIPP Staff
