This is coolbert: During the seventies and the eighties, appraising the situation, the U.S. Army began programs to provide weapons for the American soldier that while never could be fielded numerically in as great numbers as what potential enemies could provide for their troops [i.e., the U.S. never could have built and fielded tanks in as great numbers as the Soviets did], would provide a qualitative edge over comparable weapons the potential enemies would have. The big five for weapons development during the seventies and eights were the Abrams tank, the Bradley fighting vehicle [IFV], the Patriot missile, the Multiple Launch Rocket System [MLRS], and the Apache helicopter.

To use these weapons properly and effectively, new strategy, doctrine, tactics and plans were devised. These concepts went by the names of "Deep Strike", "Corps 85", and "AirLand Battle 2000". Offered a plan by which a blitzkrieg attack by Soviet forces or North Koreans could be countered and defeated using the big five weapons systems and superior U.S. Army personnel. These concepts stressed what can best be termed the "strategic defensive". A numerically inferior force defends against the attacker by gaining and maintaining the initiative, inflicting severe losses on the attacker, all the while husbanding reserves for an eventual counter-attack and victory over the aggressor. All these concepts placed an emphasis upon attacking in the enemy rear area, not allowing reinforcing elements of the enemy to reach the battlefield unmolested, those reinforcing elements of the enemy being placed under constant attack from long range artillery, ground attack aircraft and helicopters, missiles and rockets, behind-the-lines units [special forces and rangers], this all being done to these enemy units before they reach the main battle area.

coolbert.