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WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday that defense innovation will ensure the U.S. military remains the finest fighting force in the world.
During a talks with his mentor, former Defense Secretary William Perry, at the Hoover Institution, Carter highlighted the importance of innovation in defense and the military's cooperation with the private technology sector.
"The goal ... is to make sure we remain the finest fighting force in the world," Carter said. "We're that today ... because we have wonderful people and because of technology."
In technical terms, the U.S. military is working to keep up with the times, the Pentagon chief said.
Cyber technology, automated systems and biological research will be necessary moving forward, he said, noting that biological research "will be the revolution that comes after the information revolution ... and we need to be there for that."
Carter also said that the Pentagon must deal with a "stylistic change" from the time when it was the font of all funding and ideas for defense.
That is not the case anymore, he said, adding that the key for innovation now is the private technology sector.
"It has always been our relationship with private industry that has been our channel through which we got the best technology," Carter said.
He called for building "a new relationship with the dynamic, innovative culture of the United States that is different than when I started my career."
To connect to the innovative U.S. tech companies, the Pentagon under Carter has already established the Defense Innovation Unit-Experimental outposts in California, Massachusetts and Texas. Carter said he anticipated setting up more such units.
These units are reaching out to young people who want to make a difference. "We have to adapt, if we are going to draw them into our mission," Carter said.
