Admiral Samuel Paparo just delivered some grim news about America’s defense position in Asia. After taking the reins of the Indo-Pacific Command in May, he made it clear: the U.S. is seriously behind in preparing for the growing threats in the region. You’d think after nearly three years of global instability—hello, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—that we’d be more on top of this, but apparently not.
While Washington’s attention has been fixated on Ukraine and Israel, the Pacific has been quietly simmering. Paparo, a veteran of military action, acknowledges that the U.S. has been depleting its military stockpiles. And it’s not like the weapons Ukraine or Israel need are exactly useful for keeping China in check. As he recently pointed out, the military’s stock of key weapons like air-to-air missiles and Patriots is now dangerously low, especially with China’s military flexing its muscles in some of the most extensive drills Paparo has seen in his entire career.
The Pentagon’s big, brilliant plan? The Replicator Initiative. The program promises to churn out cheap drones at lightning speed. However, it’s a quick fix to keep things from completely falling apart—but let’s be real: it’s hardly a long-term solution—just a little Band-Aid for a gaping wound. The drones will at least “make China’s life miserable” for a month in the event of an attack, but that’s only if the Pentagon can actually get its act together. And let’s face it—the U.S. defense industry isn’t known for its speed. It’s more like watching a snail try to climb a hill while everyone else sprints past.
China is outpacing us in terms of missile production, and it’s pretty clear the U.S. is way behind when it comes to weapons production. Drones are nice, but they’re not a magic bullet. Without a major overhaul in how quickly we can arm our forces, Paparo’s plan will just be a stopgap before the real battle begins.
As Paparo pointed out, drones are insufficient to halt Chinese aggression, but they buy time. His job is to ensure America doesn’t end up in a Pacific nightmare where we’ve wasted too much time and resources on things that don’t move fast enough. The stakes are high. If China decides to make a move, we’re going to need more than just “weapons in production” to keep our footing.
