Mark F. Cancian

With the return of great power competition, the United States needs every advantage it can get over its adversaries. This CSIS report looks at how the U.S. might revitalize the old but overlooked tool of surprise to gain a strategic advantage in great power conflict.

Military forces include not just traditional services, but also the newly created Space Force, special operations forces, civilians, and contractors. In his final paper in a series on U.S. forces, Mark Cancian analyzes recent changes to these national security elements.

This CSIS report assesses the U.S. defense industries’ capacity for surge production. The analysis found that the industrial base has become more brittle over time and that it would take years to replace weapon inventories in the event of a long, high-intensity conflict.

The Air Force continues to develop and procure next-generation aircraft to meet the demands of great power conflict. While fielding new aircraft has arrested the fleet's increasing age, the Air Force is not buying enough new aircraft to sustain its force structure.

The Marine Corps begins a major restructuring to develop capabilities for great power conflict after two decades of conducting counterinsurgency ashore. However, many commentators worry that the restructuring will make the Marine Corps too narrowly focused.

Unlike the other services, the Navy has sought to grow significantly. However, its previous plan to reach 355 ships collapsed. A new plan incorporates smaller ships and large numbers of unmanned systems.

The Army plans for a slow expansion while continuing to take steps towards modernization for great power conflict. In the second white paper in his series on U.S. forces, CSIS's Mark Cancian analyzes the Army’s plans and challenges for growth and modernization.