The Army Transformation Initiative is trying to provide new weapons systems, rebuild current combat formations and reduce aging programs.
On May 7, U.S. Army leaders submitted questions from lawmakers on May 7 about their latest plans to streamline the process for adopting new technology and weapons systems for future conflicts.
The Army is pursuing innovation and preparation, but lawmakers are wary of supporting new, costly programs that don’t suit the needs of the force or eliminate legacy programs.
House Budget Committee members raised questions and concerns about the initiative at an oversight hearing Wednesday.
The Army is looking for new combat capabilities, including long-range missile programs, new drones and counter-drone technology, and even easier upgraded Abram Stanks. They are also working to advance future long-range assault aircraft programs aimed at taking over the Black Hawk helicopter.
The Army also wants to add artificial intelligence to its command and control systems.
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Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) pushed military leaders to consider cancelled programs, such as the RAH-66 Comanche Stealth Attach Helicopter and the problematic M10 Booker Light Tank program.
“These are the kinds of things we have to avoid because we are in a resource-constrained environment,” Womack said.
“We’re not proud of Booker’s outcome, but what we’re trying to do is not sacrifice the mistake of sinking costs as we continue to buy because we invested all these dollars in this machine that turned out to be inadequate,” the Army Secretary said. “Instead, what we want to do is be completely transparent.”
Rosa de Lauro (D-Conn.), a ranking member of the House Budget Committee, questioned the Army’s plans for the Black Hawk helicopter. She called Black Hawk, who served in 1979, “Excellent in the Army Vertical Lift Platform,” and described her state as a key manufacturing hub for the program.
Driscoll responded that Black Hawks do not have enough range or speed to be effective in some theatres of potential conflicts, such as the Indo-Pacific region.
George said the Army will retire from some older Black Hawk versions and consider a new system that will fill the role of many current missions in helicopters.
De Lauro called his comments about the Black Hawk “very nasty.”
At another point in the hearing, Rep. David Baradao (R-Calif) questioned whether plans to reduce the Army’s armored vehicle units and employ a higher mobility layer would leave soldiers who rely on vehicles with fewer protective armor.
“They get stuck. When you get stuck, you’re also a target,” the Army Secretary said. “So I think it’s a mix and that’s what we see in our formation.”
