2022 Index of U.S. Military Strength

2022 Index of

U.S. Military Strength

The only non-governmental and only annual assessment of U.S. Military Strength

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Key Topics

Assessing the Global Operating Environment

Europe, Middle East, Asia

Assessing Threats to U.S. Vital Interests

China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Non-State Actors

An Assessment of U.S. Military Power

Army, Navy, USAF, USMC, Space, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense, Cyber

Topical Essays

Managing Defense Risk, China, U.S. Nuclear Deterrent, Climate Change

About the Index

The only non-governmental and only annual assessment of U.S. Military Strength

Contributors and Acknowledgments

The contributions of a great many people make this type of publication possible.

Executive Summary

As currently postured, the U.S. military continues to be only marginally able to meet the demands of defending America’s vital national interests.

Introduction

Informed deliberations on the status of America’s military power are desperately needed.

Preface

At The Heritage Foundation, we have long recognized that one of the very few obligations the U.S. Constitution places on the federal government is to provide for the common defense.

The Honorable John F. Lehman

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We are honored to dedicate the 2022 Index of U.S. Military Strength to the Honorable John F. Lehman.

Glossary of Abbreviations

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Find the definitions for abbreviations used throughout the 2022 Index.

Methodology

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The assessment portion of the Index of U.S. Military Strength is composed of three major sections that address America’s military power, the operating environments within or through which that power must be employed, and threats to U.S. vital national interests.

Appendix

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This Index measures the capability of the U.S. military based on the current state of its combat equipment. Four factors are key to this assessment. This appendix presents each of the services’ principal combat platforms and corresponding modernization programs, scoring them in each of the four factors.

Graphics

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In addition to the website, the 2022 Index of U.S. Military Strength is also available in a print friendly PDF format.

Previous Indexes

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View and download previous Indexes of U.S. Military Strength.

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