Overview
- The New York Times reports that a classified Office of Net Assessment brief concludes China could destroy U.S. fighter jets, large ships and satellites in a Taiwan conflict.
- War-game scenarios described in the document frequently show major U.S. losses, with the USS Gerald R. Ford often destroyed.
- The brief contends that U.S. reliance on costly, vulnerable platforms is mismatched against China’s cheaper yet technologically advanced systems produced at scale.
- The assessment highlights cyber vulnerabilities, citing malware attributed to the group Volt Typhoon in utilities and communications that support American military bases.
- Officials and independent analysts quoted in the coverage describe heavy U.S. losses in exercises and say the findings point to a need for changes in force design, basing and procurement.