U.S. Military Banks on Deterrence

Air Force pilot shortages and an aging fighter fleet are among the challenges the U.S. military confronts amid its response to the Israel-Hamas war and beyond.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 05:37 PM ET

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The U.S. Navy Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, October 10, 2023. [Credit: U.S. Navy]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. has rapidly deployed significant military assets, including the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and Air Force squadrons, to the eastern Mediterranean and surged military aid to Israel following the Hamas invasion.
Despite these deployments, the U.S. military, particularly the Air Force, faces severe internal challenges, including a growing pilot shortage, an aging fighter fleet lacking modernization, and congressional delays affecting readiness and key postings.
These "homegrown challenges" and global commitments (Ukraine, China, Africa, Middle East) are stretching the U.S. military "past the breaking point," even as its goal is to deter new conflicts, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

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The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on Wednesday, joining Air Force F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s that had been rapidly sent to the region to augment existing fighter squadrons.

As military aircraft and ships moved in, munitions moved out. Four days following the surprise invasion of Israel by Hamas militants, the U.S. surged military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish its Iron Dome air defense system.