Bigger defense budget needed

OPINION:

Our proposed defense budget of $842 billion, which is 3% of gross domestic product, does not meet our national security needs at a time of multiple international threats.

These include an expansionist Russia in Europe, China’s buildup and threats in the Pacific, North Korea’s warlike attitude toward South Korea and Iran’s moves in the Middle East. We should be spending 6% to 7% of our GDP on defense and increase the proposed budget to $892 billion.  

The army needs another 20 brigade combat teams, including infantry, armored and Stryker units, as well as combat aviation brigades. This will help it deter our adversaries and conduct potential combat operations in Europe, the Middle East and the South Pacific. Our Air Force needs more stealth bombers and it must increase the inventory of fighters, bombers, tankers and airlift aircraft.

Our Navy has 298 active ships, including 11 carrier strike groups. It needs another 100 ships, including two carrier strike groups, to meet minimum requirements to project our sea power, patrol the oceans and conduct naval wartime operations. The U.S. Marine Corps needs another five infantry battalions and another five fixed-wing squadrons.

We must also restock our ammunition inventory, which has been depleted due to the commitment to Ukraine.

DONALD MOSKOWITZ

Londonderry, New Hampshire