(Newswire.net — November 16, 2014) — Simi Valley, Ca. – In a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that that the Pentagon will turn to new technologies in the future. In effort to develop high-end weapons, Hagel said that include field new systems using technologies such as robotics, autonomous systems, miniaturization, big data and three-dimensional printing.
The Defense Department will turn to businesses and universities for ideas and help, as the Pentagon plan to develop new systems, which will provide the advantage as tactical nuclear weapons, precision strike and stealth have done in 20th century, Hagel said.
In a memo, announcing the initiative, Hagel wrote that we are entering an era where American dominance in key war combat arenas is eroding.
“We must find new and creative ways to sustain, and in some areas expand, our advantages,” Hagel wrote.
Hegel explained that while the US has been engaged in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, powers such as Russia and China have invested heavily in military modernization. They developed advanced aircraft, submarines, and both longer-range and more accurate missiles.
Since the technology becomes cheaper and available not only to a less advanced nations, but to a broad range of militaries and non-state actors, from North Korea to Hezbollah, Hegel added.
Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s chief arms buyer told Reuters “We took it for granted,” referring that fact that the US is used to having a dominant military power.
Hegel just publicly announced a plan that is already on a way for some time as US deploys the first military ship equipped with operational laser weapons. According to Bloomberg, amphibious transport ship USS Ponce has been patrolling Persian Gulf with a prototype 30-kilowatt-class Laser Weapon System since late August.
The laser gun has up to 10 mile range and its primal mission is engaging the drones and small ships delivering high energy beam at the speed of light. This weapon is just the first of many the Pentagon plan to introduce at the beginning of a new era more focused on both the technology and the budget. The new laser gun cost $40 million to develop and $1 per shot.
The laser gun has unlimited ‘magazine’, however becomes less effective during bad weather. Also, there is a concern that laser beam could endanger civilian aircrafts in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense is trying to cut nearly a trillion dollars from projected spending over a decade. Hagel, however, did not say how much the Pentagon planned to spend on developing new high-end weapons.