Army Futures Command

The United States Army Futures Command (AFC) is a United States Army command, designed as a public-private initiative, that runs modernization projects for the Army. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and was first commanded by General John Murray, formerly the Army's G-8; the second and current commander was formerly the Army's G-3/5/7.

As of 2018 Futures Command was focused on six priorities: 1) Long-range precision fires, 2) Next Generation Combat Vehicle, 3) Future Vertical Lift platforms, 4) a mobile & expeditionary Army network, 5) air and missile defense capabilities, and 6) soldier lethality.
AFC's cross-functional teams ( CFTs) are Futures Command's vehicle for sustainable reform of the acquisition process for the future.Phillip B. Fountain, U.S. Army Futures Comman
(8 October 2019) Army Futures Command to highlight modernization efforts at 2019 AUSA

By October 2021, the 40th Chief of Staff of the Army was able to project that 24 of the top 35 priority programs for modernization would be fielded in fiscal year 2023 (FY2023).

Overmatch of the capability of a competitor or adversary is one of the goals of AFC. More specifically, the imposition of multiple simultaneous dilemmas upon a competitor or adversary is a goal of the US Army: to get into a position of relative advantage. By 2021, Army leadership recognized that new Army formations (the multi-domain operations task force — MDTF) had the ability to simultaneously compete with, and also threaten an adversary, with its new capability, across domains (space, cyber, disinformation) of the conflict continuum.Christine Wormuthbr>(10.11.2021) AUSA 2021
/ref> By 2022 or 2023, a new concept for command and control ( JADC2) will have been largely prototyped. Colin Demarest
(21 Oct 2022) Project Convergence shows JADC2 alignment, leaders from 3 services say
Interoperations "show the services are aligned and not disjointed".

History

U.S. Army Futures Command was activated in the summer of 2018. The Decker-Wagner report on the 2010 Army Acquisition Review (Jan 2011) listed numerous changes to the acquisition process;Gilbert F. Decker, Louis C. Wagner (co-chairs) et. al
(Jan 2011) Army Strong: Equipped, Trained and Ready
Final Report of the 2010 Army Acquisition Review the recommendation to disestablish RDECOM was not followed.C. Todd Lope
(25 July 2011) Army to implement 63 Decker-Wagner acquisition recommendations
/ref> Instead a unitary Futures Command, to unify development over the life cycle was moved forward by an Acting Secretary of the Army (Ryan McCarthy), and the 36th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (James McConville), who established a task force for modernization in 2016-2017 using cross-functional teams of subject matter experts to drive initial actions.''See § Need for modernization reform''

AFC declared its full operational capability in July 2019,Scott Maucion
(19 July 2019) Army Futures Command fully operational, dinged by GAO on announcement
/ref> after an initial one-year period. The FY2020 military budget allocated $30 billion for the top six modernization priorities over the next five years. The $30 billion came from $8 billion in cost avoidance and $22 billion in terminations. Over 30 projects Michael A. Grinston, James C. McConville, and Ryan McCarthy (U.S. Army), Ryan McCarthy
(2019) 2019 Army Modernization Strategy
revision 7, CFTs' 31 signature efforts are envisioned to become the materiel basis needed for overmatching any potential competitors in the 'continuum of conflict' over the next ten years, in multi-domain operations (Reorganization plan of United States Army#Multi-domain operations (MDO), MDO).MDO Challeng
(15 May 2019) *Start here* MDO 101
General explanation of multi-domain operations (MDO) for the layman By 2018 a fundamental strategy was formulated, involving simultaneous integrated operations across domains. This strategy involves pushing adversaries to Conflict continuum#Standoff, standoff, by presenting them with multiple simultaneous dilemmas.Sydney Freedberg, Jr
(14 January 2020) Army Chief Seeks ‘Minimally Manned’ Vehicles, Joint C2
LRPF, ITN, IBCS, FARA, FLRAA, and "We need a joint command and control system" —Army Chief of Staff James C. McConvilleSydney Freedberg, Jr
(2021) Army Chief To Navy, Air Force: We’ve Got ‘Speed & Range’
"The future is all about range and speed" —Gen. McConville By 2028, the ability to project rapid, responsive power across domains will have become apparent to potential adversaries.Chief of Staff paper #1, Headquarters, Department of the Arm
(16 March 2021) Army Multi-Domain Transformation: Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict
Unclassified version by 40th Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James C. McConvilleChief of Staff paper #
(1 March 2021) The Army in Military Competition
/ref> ''See Power projection''

From an initial 12 people at its headquarters in 2018, AFC grew to 24,000 across 25 states and 15 countries in 2019. The apparent rapid expansion came by research facilities and personnel (including ARCIC and RDECOM) migrated from other commands and parts of the Army such as the United States Army Research Laboratory.
The AFC was created in 2018 as a peer of Forces Command (FORSCOM), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Army Materiel Command (AMC), the Army commands that provide forces, training and doctrine, and materiel respectively. The other Army commands focus on their readiness to "fight tonight" when called upon. In contrast, AFC is focused on future readinessArpi Dilanian and Matthew Howar
(1 April 2019) The number one priority: An interview with Gen. Mark Milley
Readiness (both current and future) for competition with near-peers, who have updated their capabilities.Sébastien Robli
(11 Oct. 2019) China's stealth drones and hypersonic missiles surpass—and threaten—the U.S.
*Binkov
(11 Oct 2019) New game changing weapons shown at Chinese military parade; October 2019
Binkov explains and animates Hypersonic glide trajectories for under-the-radar operation; Binkov estimates which weapons displays are mockups; Compares and contrasts Chinese, Russian, and US capabilities The command is supported by United States Army Reserve Innovation Command (aka. 75th Innovation Command).
''See §Army of 2040''

Transition to multi-domain operations (MDO)

According to the 24th Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, the three elements in Futures Command are to be:Sydney Freedberg, Jr
(26 March 2018) Army Outlines Futures Command; Org Chart In Flux
/ref>

# Futures and Concepts: assess gaps (needs versus opportunities, given a threat). Concepts for realizable future systems (with readily harvestable content) will flow into TRADOC doctrine, manuals, and training programs.
# Combat Development: stabilized concepts. Balance the current state of technology and the cash-flow requirements of the defense contractors providing the technology, that they become deliverable experiments, demonstrations, and prototypes, in an iterative process of acquisition.Neil Hollenbeck and Benjamin Jense
(6 December 2017) Why the Army needs a Futures Command
Enable a culture of experimentation, and develop concepts and technology together. (''See Value stream'')
# Combat Systems: experiments, demonstrations, and prototypes. Transition to the acquisition, production, and sustainment programs of AMC.

23rd Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper emphasized that the 2018 administrative infrastructure for the Futures and Concepts Center (formerly ARCIC) and United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC, now called DEVCOM, (formerly RDECOM)) remains in place at their existing locations. What has changed or will change is the layers of command (operational control, or OPCON) needed to make a decision.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(7 May 2018) Permanent Evolution: SecArmy Esper On Futures Command
/ref> He said, "You've got to remain open to change, you've got to remain flexible, you've otto remain accessible. That is the purpose of this command." ''See § Army of 2040''

Cross-Functional Teams (CFTs)

When he was 33rd Under Secretary of the Army, Ryan McCarthy characterized a Cross-Functional Team (CFT) as a team of teams, led by a requirements leader, program manager, sustainer and tester. Scott Maucion
(14 Sep 2018) Army leaders ask for trust in lieu of metrics for Futures Command
/ref> Each CFT must strike a balance for itself amid constraints: the realms of requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment. A balance is needed in order for a CFT in order to produce a realizable concept before a competitor achieves it. The Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) itself serves as a kind of CFT, operating at a higher levelHeadquarters, Department of the Army
(29 Jun 2021) Army Regulation 71–9 Force Management. Warfighting Capabilities Determination
°1-6c, p.1) tasks for CG,AFC; °2-24 p.13) CG,AFC is a principal member of AROC, with 43 duties ''a through qq''; °3-1 ch.3 pp20-21) AROC is a forum for requirements decisions (RDF); °4-1 p.24) CG,AFC is responsible for force design; °6-4 p39) figure 6-1 Deliberate staffing and review process; ''figures for more staffing and review processes follow.'' Research, Development, and Acquisitio
AR 71–9 (2009) Warfighting Capabilities Determination
Aug 15, 2019 updateHQD
(3 May 2022) Army Directive 2022-07 (Army Modernization Roles and Responsibilities)
AD2022-07 is 6 pagesResearch, Development, and Acquisitio
(22 Jul 2011) Army Acquisition Policy
AR 70-1Jared Serb
(11 Mar 2016) Army puts its chief of staff 'at the center' of acquisition decisions
/ref>USAASC, Army ALT Magazine, Best Practice
(16 February 2018) A Model and Process for Transitioning Urgent Acquisition
- USAASC (United States Army Acquisition Corps) as response to Congressional oversight, budgeting, funding, policy, and authorization for action. Jen Judson
(6 Sep 2022) Futures Command faces identity crisis as Army shifts mission
Jen Judso
(6 Sep 2022) Army’s next Futures Command leader could come 'in short order'
/ref>Andrew Eversde
(7 Sep 2022) After months of delay, Army nominates new commander for Futures Command
Stripe


CFTs for materiel and capabilities were first structured in a task force, in order to de-layer the Army Commands.US Arm
(6 Oct 2017) Army Directive 2017-24 (Cross-Functional Team Pilot In Support of Materiel Development)
/ref>David Vergun, Army News Servic
(13 October 2017) Cross-functional teams to spearhead modernization, says McCarthy
allocated money in Program Objective Memorandum (POM) to protect resources. Each CFT addresses a capability gap, which the Army must now match for its future: there can be a Capability Development Integration Directorate (CDID), for each CFT.The capabilities as prioritized by the Chief of Staff, will use subject-matter experts (SMEs) in the realms of requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment, using CFTs for:

# Improved long-range precision fires (artillery):—(Fort Sill, Oklahoma) Lead: BG John Rafferty ... PEO Ammunition (AMMO)
# Next Generation Combat Vehicle—(Detroit Arsenal, Warren, Michigan) Lead
BG Geoffrey Norman
... PEO Ground Combat Systems (GCS)
# Vertical lift platforms—(Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama) Lead: BG Wally Rugen ... PEO Aviation (AVN)
# Mobile and expeditionary (usable in ground combat) communications network (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland)
## Network Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence—Lead: BG Jeth Rey ... PEO Command Control Communications Tactical (C3T)
## Assured Position Navigation and Timing—(Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama) Lead: William B. Nelson, SES
# Air and missile defense—(Fort Sill, Oklahoma) Lead: BG Brian Gibson, ... PEO Missiles and Space (M&S)
# Soldier lethality
## Soldier Lethality—(Fort Benning, Georgia) Lead: BG Larry Q. Burris, Jr. ... PEO Soldier
## Synthetic Training Environment—(Orlando, Florida) Lead: BG William Glaser ... PEO Simulation, Training, & Instrumentation (STRI)

* Above, 'dotted line' relationship (i.e., coordination) is denoted by a ' ... ' Initially, the CFTs were placed as needed; eventually they might each co-locate at a Center of Excellence ( CoE) listed below. For example, the Aviation CoE at Fort Rucker, in coordination with the Aviation Program Executive Officer (PEO), also contains the Vertical Lift CFT and the Aviation CDID.
Modernization reform is the priority for AFC, in order to achieve readiness for the future.

The CFTs will be involved in all three of AFC's elements: Futures and concepts, Combat development, and Combat systems.Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howar
(31 August 2018) Modernizing at the speed of relevance: An interview with Under Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy
/ref> "We were never above probably a total of eight people" —BG Wally Rugen, Aviation CFT. Four of the eight CFT leads have now shifted from dual-hat jobs to full-time status. Each CFT lead is mentored by a 4-star general.

Although AFC and the CFTs are a top priority of the Department of the Army, as AFC and the CFTs are expected to unify control of the $30 billion-dollar modernization budget,Sydney Freedber
(29 August 2018) Army Futures Command: $100M, 500 Staff, & Access To Top Leaders
/ref> "The new command will not tolerate a zero-defects mentality. 'But if you fail, we'd like you to fail early and fail cheap,' because progress and success often builds on failure." —Ryan McCarthyDavid Vergu
(22 April 2018) New Army Futures Command success hinges on relationship building
��Ryan McCarthy Holland notes that prototyping applies to the conceptual realm ('harvestable content') as much as prototyping applies to the hardware realm.Lt. Col. Thomas "Bull" Holland, PhD, U.S. Arm
(15 January 2019) Proposed Army Futures Command Process Tenets

# 'Scientific research is a fundamentally different activity than technology development';
# Incorporate 'scientific research into "Appendix C: Functional Concepts" and specify pathways for technology development';
# Buy into the 'fail fast' mentality;
# '6.3-funded projects to produce knowledge (technical data) that can be consumed by requirements developers as opposed to PMs';
# Use 'evidence-based requirements process' (early hypothesis testing) with citations for evidence:
#* All projects will be executed in no less than two increments.
#* No new requirements once an increment is started.
# Summary: 'advances on the battlefield requires comprehensive, coordinated changes in the entire acquisition system';

A 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report cautions that lessons learned from the CFT pilot are yet to be applied; Holland notes that this organizational critique applies to prototyping hardware, a different realm than concept refinement ("scientific research is a fundamentally different activity than technology development"). Also in 2019 the GAO recommended that the government establish a process to ensure that CFTs implement their intended business reforms; however by 2021 the office of the Chief Management officer (CMO) had been disestablished.United States Government Accountability Office (GAO
Defense Management: DOD Needs to Implement Statutory Requirements and Identify Resources for Its Cross-Functional Reform Teams
GAO 19-165 accessdate=2021-09-24
Search for GAO 19-165
but the 35th deputy secretary of defense addressed the issue of DoD-wide CFT continuity in 2021 by establishing the RDER fund. —Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(21 Jun 2021) Hicks Seeks To Unify Service Experiments With New ‘Raider’ Fund
/ref>

Joint collaboration on modernization

The Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy meet regularly to take advantage of overlap in their programs:David Vergun, Defense.go
(21 February 2020) Military leaders discuss hypersonics, supply chain vulnerabilities
/ref>
;Hypersonic
* Hypersonic: The US Army (August 2018) has no tested countermeasure for intercepting maneuverable hypersonic weapons platforms,In, for example Waverider hypersonic weapons delivery, China has flown a Mach 5.5 vehicle for 400 seconds, at 30 km altitude, demonstrating large-angle deviations from a ballistic trajectory, as well as recovery of the payload. See

3 August 2018 China tests hypersonic aircraft Starry Sky-2
--Xingkong-2 (Starry-sky-2) first flight

China successfully tests first hypersonic aircraft that can .. Youtube clip XingKong-2 hypersonic aircraft (Starry Sky-2)


John Hyten statement 05:03, 8 August 2018 (UTC)

(15 Jun 2018) Lockheed Martin Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW) Missile for US Air Force
**Chris Marti
(17 Dec 2019) Lockheed awards $81.5M contract for hypersonic missile motor
to Rocketdyne for HCSW $81.5M, ARRW
*NPR
(23 October 2018) Nations Rush Ahead With Hypersonic Weapons Amid Arms Race Fear
*DOV S. ZAKHEIM, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
(08/26/19) Putin built a hypersonic arsenal, while the Pentagon slept
*Colin Clark
(19 June 2019) Raytheon, Northrop Will ‘Soon’ Fly Hypersonic Cruise Missile
Paris Air Show, new additive-process materials to build the combustor of a scramjet; potential integration among members of an intercommunicating swarm of hypersonics systems

Current test targets, such a
Zombie Pathfinder
are not hypersonic
Rand Corporation (28 September 2017) Hypersonic Missile Nonproliferation
estimates there is less than a decade to prevent Hypersonic Missile proliferation.
Stephen Carlso
(14 Nov 2018) DARPA issues contract proposition for hypersonic missile defense
*Stephen Carlso
(13 Nov 2018) Space, lasers, hypersonic missiles rank high for U.S. missile defense research
/ref> and in this case the problem is being addressed in a joint program of the entire Department of Defense. The Army is participating in a joint program with the Navy and Air Force, to develop a hypersonic glide body,Paul McLear
(31 January 2020) SecNav Tells Fleet Hypersonic Competition Demands ‘Sputnik Moment;’ Glide Body Test Set
Hypersonic Glide Body test for 2020 by mutual agreement between the respective secretaries In order to rapidly develop this capability, a dedicated program office was established, Clark, Coli
(2019-05-24) Army Moves Out On Lasers, Hypersonics: Lt. Gen. Thurgood
/ref> in behalf of the joint services.Kelley M. Sayler, Analyst in Advanced Technology and Global Security. Congressional Research Service R4581
(11 July 2019) Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress
Lists names for hypersonics programs A division of responsibility was agreed upon, with researchers who demonstrated hypersonic capability in 2011, teaching industrial vendors, to transfer the technology.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(30 August 2019) Hypersonics: Army Awards $699M To Build First Missiles For A Combat Unit
prototypes—Dynetics: Common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB); Lockheed: Long range hypersonic weapon (LRHW)
*Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, U.S. Army RCCT
(30 August 2019) Army awards hypersonic weapon system contracts
/ref> Joint programs in hypersonic are informed by Army work; however, at the strategic level, the bulk of the hypersonic work remains at the Joint level.Aaron Greg
(2 August 2019) In conversations with investors, defense firms double down on hypersonic weapons
As of August 2019, Lockheed reports $3.5 billion in hypersonics work, while Raytheon reports $1.6 billion; Boeing declined to give the value of its hypersonics awards.Jason Cutsha
(19 September 2018) Secretary of the Navy visits AMC, SMDC
memorandum of agreement in June to co-develop a hypersonic vehicle Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) is an Army priority, and also a DoD joint effort. The Army and Navy's Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) had a successful test of a prototype in March 2020.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(20 Mar 2020) Hypersonics: Army, Navy Test Common Glide Body
"The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army jointly executed the launch of a common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB), which flew at hypersonic speed to a designated impact point"
DoD (20 March 2020) Department of Defense tests hypersonic glide body
"The C-HGB – when fully fielded – will comprise the weapon's conventional warhead, guidance system, cabling, and thermal protection shield." Also: comments from LTG L. Neill Thurgood RCCTO After the US realized that a catch-up effort was needed, billions of dollars were expended by 2020.Jon Harpe
(4 March 2020) JUST IN: Pentagon to Spend Billions Mass-Producing Hypersonic Weapons
"Aero shells that provide thermal protection for the high-speed platforms will be a key component of the systems" A wind tunnel for testing hypersonic vehicles is being built at the Texas A&M University System' RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas (2019). The Army's Land-based Hypersonic Missile "is intended to have a range of 1,400 miles". By adding rocket propulsion to a shell or glide body, the joint effort shaved five years off the likely fielding time for hypersonic weapon systems. Countermeasures against hypersonic will require sensor data fusion: both radar and infrared sensor tracking data will be required to capture the signature of a hypersonic vehicle in the atmosphere.John L. Dolan, Richard K. Gallagher & David L. Man
(23 April 2019) Hypersonic Weapons – A Threat to National Security
Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS)
*Kris Osbor
(16 December 2019) Pentagon Advances New Technology to Destroy Hypersonic Missile Attacks
HBTSS will "establish a continuous 'track' on approaching hypersonic missiles"
*Melanie Marlow
(8 April 2020) Three obstacles are slowing space sensors for hypersonic threats
Continuous tracking is needed to maintain custody of a hypersonic threat before its disposition.
*David Brenna
(27 Jan 2021) Pentagon Orders Hypersonic Missile Trackers Amid Russia, China Arms Race
HBTSS awards to L3Harris; Northrop GrummanTheresa Hitchen
(24 February 2020) 2021 Budget Will Finally Fully Fund Next-Gen OPIR, Says Roper
Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) replacement: three satellites in Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) and two satellites in a polar orbitTheresa Hitchen
(17 May 2021) New SBIRS Sat Creates Bridge To Next-Gen Missile Warning
SBIRS GEO 5Theresa Hitchens
(1 Aug 2022) Space Force plans launch this week for final SBIRS missile warning sat
GEO 6Jen Judso
(20 August 2019) US Missile Defense Agency boss reveals his goals, challenges on the job
Increase the discrimination of the radars and other sensors. Use Large aperture sensors. Use Space-based missile sensors. An SM-3 Block IIA missile test against ICBM is scheduled for 2020. Plan out the detection, control and engagement; the sensors, the command-and-control, the fire control, and the weapons (the kill vehicles). Theresa Hitchen
(9 October 2020) SDA Missile Tracking A ‘Strategic Win’ For L3Harris, SpaceX
/ref>Center for Strategic & International Studie
(7 Feb 2022) Complex Air Defense: Countering the Hypersonic Missile Threat
Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the CSIS Missile Defense Project; Ms. Kelley Sayler, CRS; Dr. Gillian Bussey, Director of the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office; Dr. Mark Lewis, Executive Director of NDIA's Emerging Technologies Institute; Mr. Stan Stafira, Chief Architect at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) In 2021 the GAO counted 70 separate hypersonic projects, in both offense and defensive categories overseen by DoD's Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, which oversees only research and development, and not DoD's Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment —DoD's acquisition and sustainment office, which do not need oversight until the hypersonic projects are ready for the acquisition phase.Theresa Hitchen
(22 Mar 2021) DoD Needs To Sharpen Hypersonics Oversight: GAO
/ref>Nathan Strou
(5 Oct 2020) SpaceX, L3 to provide hypersonic tracking satellites for Space Development Agency
SDA's National Defense Space Architecture ( NDSA)
**By 2021, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) realized that it almost had a countermeasure to hypersonic boost-glide weapons, by using existing data on the adversary hypersonic systems which were gathered from existing US satellite and ground-based sensors.Paul McLear
(18 Dec 2019) MDA Kickstarts New Way To Kill Hypersonic Missiles
HBTSS is 'Space sensor layer' MDA then fed this data into its existing systems models, and concluded that the adversary hypersonic weapon's glide phase offered the best chance for MDA to intercept it. MDA next proffered a request for information (RFI) from the defense community for building interceptors (denoted the GPI —glide phase interceptor) against the glide phase of that hypersonic weapon. GPIs would be guided by Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS).Theresa Hitchen
(19 Nov 2021) Raytheon, Northrop, Lockheed to compete for hypersonic interceptor
/ref> These GPI interceptors could first be offered to the Navy for Aegis to intercept using the C2BMC,Jen Judso
(20 Nov 2021) Here are the three companies selected to design hypersonic missile interceptors for MDA
/ref>Jen Judso
(24 Jun 2022) Raytheon, Northrop advance in competition to develop hypersonic weapons interceptor
and later to the Army for THAAD to intercept using §IBCS.Jen Judso
(13 Aug 2021) Missile Defense Agency dials up the speed in quest for hypersonic interceptor
/ref>Theresa Hitchen
(12 Aug 2021) Next Budget Will Limit Glide Phase Interceptor Contractors: MDA Head
2028 target date is being accelerated. FY2022 decisions on GPI/Ground-Based Interceptor, GBI replacement (the Next generation interceptor NGI) will be made by Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

;Multi-Domain Operations (MDO); Joint warfighting concept (JADC2)
* Multi-Domain Operations (MDO):Todd Sout
(13 September 2019) Massive simulation shows the need for speed in multi-domain ops
"400 participants working with 55 formations, 64 concepts and 150 capabilities"Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. Joint planning and operations are also part of the impending DoD emphasis on multi-domain operations.Gen. David G. Perkins, U.S. Arm
(Nov-Dec 2017) Multi-Domain Battle: The Advent of Twenty-First Century War
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(7 March 2019) US ‘Gets Its Ass Handed To It’ In Wargames: Here's A $24 Billion Fix
Army prepositioned stocks (APS) vulnerabilityMatthew Co

/ref>Army Futures Comman
(28 February 2020) Joint All Domain Command and Control
AFC is the functional lead representing the Army in JADC2's development Multi-domain battalions, first stood up in 2019, comprise a single unit for air, land,Jason Cutshaw (USASMDC
(8 August 2019) Leader gives space and missile defense update at SMD Symposium
Integrated fires across domains space,Stephen Clar
(8 August 2019) Atlas 5 launch adds to U.S. military's secure communications satellite network
Air Force's fifth AEHF (Advanced Extremely High Frequency) communications satelliteOffice of the Chief of Public Affair
(10.16.2019) 2019 AUSA Warriors Corner - TacticalSpace: Delivering Future Force Space Capabilities
*Loren Thompso
(30 Jul 2019) Defense Against Hypersonic Attack Is Becoming The Biggest Military Challenge Of The Trump Era
/ref>Paul McLear
(18 December 2019) MDA Kickstarts New Way To Kill Hypersonic Missiles
MDA's Hypersonic Defense Weapon System - 4 Interceptors—and cyber domains. A hypersonic-based battery similar to a THAAD battery is under consideration for this type of battalion, possibly denoted a ''strategic fires'' battalion (however I2CEWS support would likely be needed), depending on the theater. In 2019, as part of a series of globally integrated exercises, these capabilities were analyzed. Using massive simulation the need for a §new kind of command and control (now denoted ''JADC2'') to integrate this firepower was explored.
**The ability to punch-through any standoff defense of a near-peer competitor is the goal which Futures Command is seeking. For example, the combination of F-35-based targeting coordinates, Long range precision fires, and Low-earth-orbit satelliteTheresa Hitchen
(2 December 2019) Hey SDA, AFRL Boosts Space-Based Internet Tests
/ref> capability overmatches the competition, according to Lt. Gen. Wesley.Joseph Lacdan, Army News Servic
(21 October 2019) AFC deputy: Combined capabilities make military might more lethal
/ref> Critical decisions to meet this goal will be decided by data from the results of the Army's ongoing tests of the prototypes under development.
**For example, in Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF), the director of the LRPF CFT envisions one application as an anti-access/area denial (A2AD) probe; this spares resources from the other services;Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(16 July 2020) Army Says Long Range Missiles Will Help Air Force, Not Compete
/ref> by firing a munition with a thousand-mile range at an adversary, LRPF would force an adversary to respond, which exposes the locations of its countermeasures, and might even expose the location of an adversary force's headquarters. In that situation an adversary's headquarters would not survive for long, and the adversary's forces would be subject to defeat in detail. But LRPF is only one part of the strategy of overmatch by a Combatant commander.
**In August–September 2020. at Yuma Proving Ground, the US Army engaged in a five-week exercise to rapidly merge capabilities in multiple-domains. The exercise prototyped a ground tactical Network, pushing it to its limits of robustness (as of 2020, 36 miles on the ground, and demonstrated 1500-mile capability above the ground, with kill chains measured in seconds) in the effort to penetrate anti-access/area denial (A2AD) with long-range fires. Longer-range fires are under development, ranging from hundreds of miles to over 1000 miles, with yearly iterations of Project Convergence being planned.
*** MDO (''multi-domain operations'') and JADC2 (''joint all-domain command and control'') thus entails:
***# Penetrate phase: satellites detect enemy shooters
***# Dis-integrate phase: airborne assets remove enemy long range fires
***# Kinetic effect phase: Army shooters, using targeting data from aircraft and other sensors, fire on enemy targets.Patrick Tucke
(24 Sep 2020) Inside the Army's Fearless, Messy, Networked Warfare Experiment
Murray: Army software factory will start contributing.
*** Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville will discuss the combination of MDO and JADC2 with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown. In October 2020 the Chiefs agreed that Futures Command, and the Air Force's A5 office will lead a two-year collaboration 'at the most "basic levels" by defining mutual standards for data sharing and service interfacing' in the development of Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2).
**** The ability of the joint services to send data from machine to machine was exercised in front of several of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in April 2021; this is a prerequisite capability for Convergence of MDO and JADC2.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(20 Apr 2021) New Army Lab Tests Joint Tech: Project Convergence
Joint Systems Integration Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving GroundJoseph Lacda
(17 Apr 2021) Service leaders prioritize integration in joint effort to achieve overmatch
JSIL, Aberdeen: Preparation of data fabric for Project Convergence, ABMS JADC2, and Project Overmatch: Army - Air Force - NavyColin Demarest
(23 Sep 2022) Siemens, 29 others added to Air Force’s $950 million JADC2 contract

* In July 2022 the 7th ASA(ALT) Doug Bush called for the formation of a large office on the scale of the Joint Counter-small UAS office, but for JADC2.Jaspreet Gil
(11 Jul 2022) Army acquisition exec pushes for joint JADC2 office, large-scale exercise
This would coordinate,Colin Demares
(11 Jul 2022) Pentagon’s secret JADC2 plan 'evolving', official says, as lawmakers seek audit
"The oversight will inform future support and is not meant to be punitive". and eventually reconcile requirements for JADC2 for Army’s Project Convergence, the Navy’s Project Overmatch and the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System.Valerie Insinn
(17 Jul 2022) Air Force’s sixth-gen fighter downselect ‘not all that far away,’ says Kendall
Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) will have a private company as prime contractor, but the US government will probably be the prime contractor for integrating efforts involving collaborative combat aircraft (drones), NGAD, and AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. —USAF Secretary Frank KendallTravis Sharp, CSBA
(20 Oct 2022) JADC2 spending is sprawling. DoD should keep watch, but Let It Go.
Planning, Programming, Budgeting & Execution Process (PPBE) ~ $2.2 billion to $2.6 billion in FY2023 for 30 initiatives in JADC2. ''See CDAO''
* In July 2022 Army Test and Evaluation Command called for more digital twinning and modeling and simulation,Jen Judso
(15 Jul 2022) Army Test and Evaluation Command pushes to reduce live-fire tests
as end-to-end tests become more comprehensive, expensive, and larger-scale; as the scale of an exercise increases, a Synthetic Training Environment (STE) can be used to cut costs.

Partners

AFC is actively seeking partners outside the military,Sean Kimmons including research funding to over 300 colleges and universities, but with one-year program cycles. "We will come to you. You don't have to come to us. —General Mike Murray, 24 August 2018"
Multiple incubator tech hubs are available in Austin,
especially Capital Factory, with offices of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and AFWERX (USAF tech hub). Gen. Murray will stand up an Army Applications Lab Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
Army Applications Lab(23 October 2018) Army Futures Command Wants YOU (To Innovate)
*—Adam Jay Harrison's list for types of Funding Authority there to accelerate acquisition and deployment of materiel to the soldiers, using artificial intelligence (AI)
as one acceleration technique;Kelley M. Sayler, CR
(10 Nov 2020) Artificial Intelligence and National Security
R45178 Murray will hire a chief technology officer for AFC.Lauren C. William
(14 Sep 2018) Army Futures Command to set up DIU-like innovation lab

Ronald Sega, CTO for AFC, Starts 1 July 2019
Ronald M. Sega Gen. Murray, in seeking to globalize AFC,David Vergun, Army News Servic
(10 October 2018) Army Futures Command to become 'global command,' says its leader
/ref> has embedded U.S. military allies into some of the CFTs.
For the US, and its allies and partners, the basis of global surveillance and target acquisition is the US National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) as realized by layered constellations of Earth satellites and Earth stations (such as TITAN).Andrew Eversde
(28 Jun 2022) Army moves ahead with Palantir and Raytheon for next phase of TITAN
"The TITAN program is a tactical ground station that will process data from across space and land-based sensors using artificial intelligence and ship it off to the right shooter — such as one of the new Army long-range precision fires missiles".Courtney Albo
(28 Jun 2022) US Army awards $72 million for new phase in next-gen ground system effort
DIU and Northrop will field a prototype TITAN in the interim It will take machine learning (ML) and AI to handle the scale of data flows needed for MDO.
;AI
*Disinformation at scale appears to be AI-generated, in 2021.Brad William
(30 Sep 2021) Researchers Warn Of ‘Dangerous’ Artificial Intelligence-Generated Disinformation At Scale
/ref>Theresa Hitchen
(7 Apr 2022) How US intel worked with commercial satellite firms to reveal Ukraine info
using RF geolocation
*Artificial Intelligence (AI) ModernizationDefense.go
(12 February 2019) SUMMARY OF THE 2018 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY
/ref>Ashton Carte
(2012-11-21) Autonomy in Weapon Systems
Most recent DoD guideline: 2012—The 23rd Secretary of the Army directed the establishment of an Army AI Task Force (A-AI TF) to support the DoD Joint AI center. The execution order will be drafted and staffed by Futures Command:Army AI task forc
Army Directive 2018-18 (Army Artificial Intelligence Task Force in Support of the Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center)
2 October 2018Terri Moon Cronk
*The Army Applications Laboratory was established in 2018, along with the stand-up of the Army Futures Command, to act as a concierge service across the Army's Future Force Modernization Enterprise and the broader commercial marketplace of ideas.
** Army AI task forceCarnegie Mellon Universit

Brigadier General Matt Easley is Director of Army Artificial Intelligence task force (A-AI TF)Gary Sheftic
(13 August 2019) AI Task Force taking giant leaps forward
Coordinating with: NREC, Talent management task force, the CFTs, and DOD's Joint AI Center (its relationship with the CFTs is cross-cutting, in the same sense as the Assured Position, Navigation, Timing (A-PNT) CFT and the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) CFT are also cross-cutting) will use the resources of the Army to establish scalable machine learning projects at Carnegie Mellon University
** the Army CIO/G-6 will create an Identity, Credential, and Access Management system to efficiently issue and verify credentials to non-person entities (AI agents and machines)Douglas Scot
(6 August 2019) New wearable authentication more than a "token" gesture
Tactical Identity and Access Management (TIDAM) ''see Army AI task force (A-AI TF)''
** DCS G-2 will coordinate with CG AFC, and director of A-AI TF, to provide intelligence for Long-Range Precision Fires
** CG AMC will provide functional expertise and systems for maintenance of materiel with AI
** AFC and A-AI TF will establish an AI test bed for experimentation, training, deployment, and testing of machine learning capabilities and workflows.U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affair
(27 February 2020) Army researchers enhance AI critical to Soldier-machine teamwork
Explainability & tellability: coalition situational understanding (CSU) & human-agent knowledge fusion (HAKF)
*Alun Preece, Dave Braines, Federico Cerutti, Tien Pha
(16 Oct 2019) Explainable AI for Intelligence Augmentation in Multi-Domain Operations
/ref>RDECOM Research Laboratory Public Affair
(18 December 2018) Black Hawk helicopter pilot interns with Army researchers
/ref> Funding will be assured for the Fiscal Year 2019.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(11 September 2020) JAIC Wants AI ‘Victory Gardens’ Across DoD
/ref>
***A Global Network to counter cyber attacks, much like Five Eyes, is the recommendation for multi-domain operations (MDO), which is unified to present a synoptic view of any cyber operation to all the combatant commands simultaneously.Theresa Hitchen
(25 September 2019) IC Must Embrace Public Data to Use AI Effectively: Sue Gordon
IC is the Intelligence Community Mezher, Chyrine Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(12 August 2019) Big Data For Big Wars: JEDI vs. China & Russia
/ref> 'Decision dominance' is a tenet of the 'Joint warfighting concept'.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(22 November 2019) SecArmy's Multi-Domain Kill Chain: Space-Cloud-AI
Army Multi-Domain Operations Concept, December 2018 slide from TRADOC pam 525-3-1TRADOC Pamphlet 525-3-1 (6 December 2018) The U.S. Army in Multi-Domain Operations 2028
"describes how US Army forces, as part of the Joint Force, will militarily compete, penetrate, dis-integrate, and exploit our adversaries in the future.
Link moved here
/ref>DAISHI ABE and RIEKO MIK
(14 Aug 2020) Japan wants de facto 'Six Eyes' intelligence status: defense chief
*MASAYA KAT
(13 Aug 2020) Japan's deeper ties with Five Eyes hinge on how it keeps secrets
/ref>
**** Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) AlphaDogfight: Trials of eight AI teams, which began learning how to fly in September 2019. In August 2020 the eight AI agents faced each other, in a series of simulated fights. The simulations included the g-forces which limit a human (accelerations greater than 9 g's will cause most forward-facing human pilots to black out— AI agents are not subject to these human constraints). The champion AI agent eventually met a human General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter pilot in simulated combat on 20 August 2020.Andrew Eversde
(7 August 2020) A human F-16 pilot will fight against AI in an upcoming contest
/ref> On 20 August 2020, the champion AI agent consistently defeated a human F-16 pilot in a series of dogfights.Theresa Hitchen
(20 August 2020) AI Slays Top F-16 Pilot In DARPA Dogfight Simulation
The AI systems are eventually to serve as wingmen for human commanders.
*Eric Tegle
(20 August 2020) AI Just Won A Series Of Simulated Dogfights Against A Human F-16 Pilot, 5-0. What Does That Mean?
*DARPAt
(20 August 2020) AlphaDogfight Trials Final Event
5 hour live stream.
**** DoD's Joint AI Center ( JAIC) is providing a Joint Common Foundation, a cloud-based AI toolkit for any DoD organization (viz., Futures Command) to use.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(12 August 2020) Deloitte Wins $106M JAIC Contract To Build AI Toolkit
/ref> JAIC is seeking to curate the flood of data at DoDAaron Meht
(23 Sep 2020) Hyten to issue new joint requirements on handling data
by using JROC-specified Capabilities stated in high-level natural language rather than relying on traditional item-by-item Requirements documents to allow systematic, reliable datasets which are usable for machine learning.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(3 Sep 2020) AI's Data Hunger Will Drive Intelligence Collection
Army's Chief data officer: In the Future, "every Soldier is a Chief data officer"
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(10 Sep 2020) China Is Not Ahead Of US On AI: JAIC Chief & Gen. Hyten
/ref>
**** Adaptive Distributed Allocation of Probabilistic Tasks (ADAPT) is a DARPA model for testing AI-to-human communication in a toy environment. Kelsey Atherto
(14 August 2020) DARPA Trains AI To Understand Humans – In Minecraft
/ref>
*In 2021 DoD is requesting 600 separate AI efforts for FY2022 ($874 million) as opposed to 400 AI efforts for FY2021.Andrew Eversde
(28 May 2021) Pentagon wants to spend big on joint war-fighting systems
/ref> The Army is using machine learning to extract targeting data from satellite sensors for its JADC2 effort.Andrew Eversde
(12 Aug 2021) Army Futures Command outlines next five years of AI needs
/ref>
**In 2022 DEVCOM Analysis Center (DAC) signed a cooperative agreement with Northeastern University's Kostas Research Institute (KRI) to build on KRI's analytic framework, with six other universities on artificial intelligence and assistive automation (AI/AA), to further Army sub-goals ("mission effectiveness analysis, ontology for decision making, automatic target recognition, human systems integration, cyber resilience/electronic warfare threat defense, and assessing autonomous maneuver/mobility").Kaylan Hutchison, DAC Strategic Communication
(22 Jun 2022) Collaborative agreement propels Army analysis of artificial intelligence

; Software
Futures Command will stand up Army Software Factory in August 2021, to immerse Soldiers and Army civilians of all ranks in modern software development, in Austin.Eversden, Andrew Army Futures Command Army Software FactoryUSAF Assistant Secretary of Acquisition, Chief Software Offic
(19 Dec 2019) SpaceCAMP
USAF Software Factory Similar in spirit to the Training with industry program, participants are expected to take these practices back with them, to influence other Army people in their future assignments, and to build up the Army's capability in software development. The training program lasts three years, and will produce skill sets for trainees as product managers, user experience and user interface designers, software engineers, or platform engineers. The Al Work Force Development program and this Software Factory will complement the Artificial Intelligence Task Force.AI TF Artificial Intelligence Task Force

*US Arm
Army Artificial Intelligence Task Force (31 August 2020) AFC: Growing an AI-ready workforce
*U.S. ARMY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE
(Nov 2019) U.S. ARMY FUTURES COMMAND, AREAS OF INTEREST

* Tapping in to its personnel system, the Army has identified soldiers who can already code at Ph.D.-level, but who are in unexpected MOSs.Colin Clar
(8 Aug 2021) Wormuth Hints At Cuts To 35 Core Army Modernization Programs
/ref>

AFC is seeking to design signature systems in a relevant time frame according to priorities of the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA). AFC will partner with other organizations such as Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) as needed.
If a team from industry presents a viable program idea to a CFT, that CFT connects to the Army's requirements developers, Secretary Esper said, and the program prototype is then put on a fast track.
The Secretary of the Army has approved an Intellectual Property Management Policy, to protect both the Army and the entrepreneur or innovator.Devon L. Suit
(11 December 2018) Army secretary approves new Intellectual Property Management Policy
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(15 March 2019) IP Rights For Robot Tanks: NGCV To Test-Drive New Policy
/ref>
; Data

For example, the Network CFT and the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications—Tactical (PEO C3T) hosted a forum on 1 August 2018 for vendors to learn what might function as a testable/deployable in the near future.US Arm
(27 June 2018) U.S. Army to host tactical Cloud computing industry forum
army.milKathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affair
(26 November 2019) The Army gathers industry to inspire network modernization
Network Cross-Functional Team (N-CFT) and PEO C3T hosted 670 industry partners at the Technical Exchange Meeting (TEM) 4, Capability Set (CS) 23. www.army.mil Nathan Strou
(30 Nov 2019) Can hundreds of unrelated satellites create a GPS backup?
/ref> A few of the hundreds of white papers from the vendors, adjudged to be 'very mature ideas', were passed to the Army's acquisition community, while many others were passed to United States Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) for continuation in the Army's effort to modernize the network for combat. Although some test requirements were inappropriately applied, the Command post computing environment (CPCE) has passed a hurdle.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 June 2019) Army Wrestles With Testers Over Network Upgrades
breakingdefense.comColin Clar
(11 Aug 2021) Army Command Posts Getting Mobile, Dispersed, Quieter; Division Exercise In October
/ref>

While seeking information, the Army is especially interested in ideas that accelerate an acquisition program —in for example the Future Vertical Lift Requests for Information (RFIs): "provide a detailed description of tailored, alternative or innovative approaches that streamlines the acquisition process to accelerate the program as much as possible" (4 April 2019); in January 2020 the current Optionally manned fighting vehicle (OMFV) solicitation was cancelled when the OMFV's requirements added up to an unobtainable project; in February 2020 Futures command was soliciting the industry for do-able ideas for an OMFV, whereas in August 2022 Army Network modernization was the target for being speeded-up.JASPREET GILL and ANDREW EVERSDE
(24 Aug 2022) Army undersecretary reviewing network modernization portfolio, wants 'big bets'

;Search for capabilities
In the Army's search for capabilities, 6th ASA(ALT) Bruce Jette initiated xTechsearch to reward private innovators.Futures Comman
(2022) xTechSearch
The Army's ongoing search for capabilities The program is ongoing.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the Army to run an Ventilator Challenge; entrants can submit their ideas online for immediate consideration and a possible cash prize to encourage participation for a $100,000 prize and possible Army contract.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (13 April 2020)
COVID-19: Army Tries Prizes To Get Ventilator Tech ASAP
breakingdefense.com In 1964 Henrik H. Straub of Harry Diamond Labs, a predecessor to CCDC Army Research Laboratory, invented the Army Emergency Respirator (now termed a 'ventilator' in current terminology). This ventilator is one application of the fluidic amplifier (a 1957 Harry Diamond Labs invention), which allows the labored breathing of the patient to control the flow from an externally purified air stream, to augment the air flow into a patient's lungs.U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs (13 April 2020
Redditors revive interest in 1960s Army emergency ventilator invention
/ref>

TRX Systems won an award for technology which allows navigation in a GPS-denied environment, an A-PNT priority. The award was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed the company more time for business development.Michael Howar
(11 September 2020) Technology Providing Navigation in GPS-Denied Environment wins Grand Prize in xTechSearch Competition
/ref>
;Air-launched effects (ALEs)
Air-launched effects (ALEs) are drones which are launched from the Army's helicopters.Andrew Eversde
(2 May 2022) Army stretches little wings with desert mini-drone swarm tests
/ref> In swarms, ALEs promise to multiply the combat effectiveness of the Army's helicopters; single ground-launched drones have already been used in combat during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. ALEs have been used as munitions, as in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.Brenden Devereau
(22 Apr 2022) LOITERING MUNITIONS IN UKRAINE AND BEYOND
/ref>

;Robotic combat vehicles (RCVs)
In 2021 candidate Robotic combat vehicles (RCVs), both medium and light RCVs, along with surrogate heavy RCVs (modified M-113s) and proxy manned control vehicles (MET-Ds) were to marshal at Camp Grayling MI to test a company-sized tele-operated / unmanned formation.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(19 Mar 2021) Army Outlines Ambitious Schedule For Robots, Armor
/ref> The light RCVs had their autonomous driving software installed in November and December 2020. The robotic vehicle formation begins a shakeout in April 2021. The RCVs (and the software, which is common to all 18 vehicles) enters ATEC (Army Test and Evaluation Command) safety testing through May 2022. Live-fire drills are scheduled to conclude in August 2022. By October 2021 experiments with RCVs, in concert with drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), were underway.Andrew Eversde
(22 Nov 2021) Robotic vehicles, drones coordinate recon at Army’s Project Convergence 21
/ref>Andrew Eversde
(21 Oct 2022) 'Lightning in a bottle': Inside the ‘Origin’ of the Army’s future robotic fleet
Ben Watson
(6 May 2022) Defense One Radio, Ep. 99: The role of drones in Russia’s Ukraine invasion

By June 2022 Army RCVs had demonstrated some of their disruptive capabilities, in preparation for Project Convergence 2022. Autonomous capabilities, for example in resupply by unmanned helicopters, by the US, Australia, and UK will be demonstrated at PC22.Defense One staf
(9 Sep 2022) The Army's top officer discusses the future of the force and how the six-month-old Ukraine invasion is evolving.
LTG Scott McKean Army Futures Comman
(19 Sep 2022) Project Convergence 2022 to demonstrate futuristic joint, multinational warfighting technologies
inaugural PC22 Technology GatewayJoe Lacdan, Army News Service
(21 Sep 2022) Army to test robotic vehicles on land and sea during PC 22
AFC's McKean: JADC2 experiment to reach from continental US to Pacific: 1) establish an IAMD; 2) use Joint offensive fires; 3) examine which authorities and policies hinder the mission

AFC events

By 13 October 2021 the 40th Chief of Staff of the Army could announce that the majority of the Army's Futures Command's 31 signature systems,Grinston, McConville, and McCarthy (2019) 2019 Army Modernization Strategy: Investing in the future
7 —Figure 3. Current Cross Functional Teams and Signature Efforts and the four rapid capability projects of the § Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office would be fielded by fiscal year 2023 (FY2023).

By 2022, Futures Command was conducting the third annual iteration of Project Convergence (PC22), experiments and joint tests of 300 technologies by the Department of Defense and its allies and partners. Jason Cutsha
(5 Dec 2022) Experiment demos Army space capabilities
to test 300 technologiesMegan Eckstein and Colin Demares
(8 Dec 2022) Project Overmatch: US Navy preps to deploy secretive multidomain tech

Acquisition

:''See United States Army Acquisition Corps''

Futures Command partners with the ASA(ALT),Ms. Karen Diane Kurtz (ASA (ALT)) and Steven Y. Lusher (JPEO CBRND PAO
(8 October 2018) ASA(ALT) Participates in U.S. Army Futures Command Panel at AUSA
/ref> who, in the role of the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), has milestone decision authority (MDA)Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(13 Sep 2018) Futures Command Won't Hurt Oversight, Army Tells Congress
/ref>Jaspreet Gil
(4 May 2022) EXCLUSIVE: New Army directive shakes up modernization enterprise
/ref> at multiple points in a Materiel development decision (MDD). Thus, from the perspective of AFC, which seeks to modernize, they consolidate the relevant expertise into the relevant CFT. The CFT balances the constraints needed to realize a prototype, beginning with realizable requirements, science and technology, test, etc. before entering the acquisition process (typically the Army prototypes on its own and, as of 2019, initiates acquisition at Milestone B in order to have the Acquisition Executive, with the concurrence of the Army Chief of Staff, decide on production as a Program of Record at Milestone C). Next, refine the prototype to address the factors needed to pass the Milestone decisions A, B, and C which require Milestone decision authority (MDA) in an acquisition process.Acquisition process: Materiel development decision (MDD)
/ref> This consolidation of expertise thus reduces the risks in a Materiel development decision (MDD), for the Army to admit a prototype into a program of record.) The existing processes (as of April 2018) for a Materiel development decision (MDD) have been updated to clarify their place in the Life Cycle of a program of record:Richard Simonetti (23 April 2018
"US Army turns to new technologies"
linkedin.com over 1200 programs/projects were reviewed; by October 2019, over 600 programs of record have been moved from the acquisition (development for modernization) phase to the sustainment phase (for mature projects, to continue their manufacture and fielding to the brigades).(24 October 2019) Army Pushes 600 Programs From Acquisition To Sustainment
/ref> An additional life cycle management action is underway, to re-examine which of these projects/programs should be divested. (Surplus materiel might well go to the Security Assistance Command, perhaps to Foreign Military Sales.)

The emphasis remains with Futures Command, which selects programs to develop. In order to achieve its mission of achieving overmatch,USArmy tweet: Futures Command will have the overarching objective to achieve clear overmatch in future conflicts, making Soldiers and units more lethal to win the nation's wars, then return home safely.
/ref> each Futures Command CFT partners with the acquisition community.Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology
ASA(ALT)
�
Org Chart as of May 2020
see als
February 2020
and
11/5/19
as well a
Org Chart as of 11/26/18
/ref> This community (the Army acquisition workforce (AAW)) includes an entire Army branch (the Acquisition Corps),Jacqueline M. Hames, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (31 January 2020) TWI: worth it
Training with Industry: a work-experience program for Army Acquisition officers (from captain to lieutenant colonel). "After their TWI rotation, officers are expected to identify industry best practices and implement them at their next duty station" U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC), Army Contracting Command, . The Principal Military Deputy to the ASA(ALT) is also deputy commanding general for Combat Systems, Army Futures Command, and leads the Program Executive Officers (PEO); he has directed each PEO who does not have a CFT to coordinate with, to immediately form one, at least informally. Ms. Audra Calloway (Picatinny
(19 September 2018) With new Army Futures Command, senior acquisition leader discusses role of Program Executive Offices
/ref>

The PEOs work closely with their respective CFTs. The list of CFTs and PEOs below is incomplete.
Operationally, the CFTs offer "de-layering" (fewer degrees of separation between the echelons of the Army—Rugen estimates two degrees of separation), and provide a point of contact (POC) for Army reformersSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(25 October 2017) Can The Pentagon Protect Young Innovators?
Fixing the 'up or out' culture, which favors generalists interested in adding value in the midst of constraints to be balanced while modernizing. "... and if we're really good, we'll continue to adapt. Year over year over year." —Secretary Esper (''See Value stream''.)

Prototyping and experimentation

"Our new approach is really to prototype as much as we can to help us identify requirements, so our reach doesn't exceed our grasp. ... A good example is Future Vertical Lift: The prototyping has been exceptional." —Secretary of the Army Mark Esper. The development process will be cyclic, consisting of prototype, demonstration/testing, and evaluation,Gary Sheftick, Army News Servic
(3 April 2019) Army 'Shark Tank' enabling quick prototyping of new systems
/ref> in an iterative process designed to unearth unrealistic requirements early, before prematurely including that requirement in a program of record.

AFC activities include at least one Cross-functional team, its Capability development integration directorate (CDID), and the associated Battle Lab, for each ( Army Center of Excellence (CoE)) respectively. Each CDID and associated Battle Lab work with their CFT to develop operational experiments and prototypes to test.

ASA(ALT), in coordination with AFC, has dotted-line relationships between its PEOs and the CFTs. In particular, the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office of ASA(ALT) has a PEO who is charged with developing experimental prototype 'units of action' for rapid fielding to the Soldiers. The prototypes are currently for Long range hypersonic weapons, High energy laser defense, and Space, as of June 2019,Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Offic
(14 June 2019) Partnering for speed: Army rapid prototyping office hosts industry open house
/ref> Speed and range are the Army capabilities which are being augmented, with spending on these capabilities tripling between 2017 and 2019.

Tests are run by JMC and White Sands Missile Range, which hosts ATEC. As United States Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff,''Army Commands, Army Service Component Commands, and Direct Reporting Units'' ARN2541_AR10-87_WEB_Final.pdf section 20-2a, p.27 the test support level from ATEC is to be specified by the CFT, or PEO.(January 2011) Implementing Acquisition Reform: The Decker-Wagner Army Acquisition Review
/ref> Fort Bliss and WSMR together cover 3.06 million acres, large enough to test every non-nuclear weapon system in the Army inventory.DoD (16 May 2018) Army Officials Testify on FY 2019 Budget Request
/ref>
JMC runs live developmental experiments to test and assess MDO concepts or capabilities that support the Army's six modernization priorities which are then analyzed by The Research and Analysis Center, denoted TRAC based out of Fort Leavenworth, or AMSAA, denoted the Data Analysis Center at APG. CCDC, now called DEVCOM (formerly RDECOM, at APG) includes the several Army research laboratory locations (ARLs),U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (4 February 2019) CCDC Research Laboratory
/ref> as well as research, development and engineering centers (RDECs) listed:Secretary of the Army, Mark T. Esper, ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMY FUTURES COMMAN
Army General order G.O.2018-10
/ref>Army Directive 2017-33 (Enabling the Army Modernization Task Force) (7 November 2017)
References Decker-Wagner 2011

In internal partnerships, CCDC, now called DEVCOM (formerly RDECOM) has taken Long range precision fires (LRPF) as its focus in aligning its organizations (the six research, development and engineering centers (RDECs), and the Army Research Laboratory (ARL)); as of September 2018, RDECOM's 'concept of operation' is first to support the LRPF CFT,Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, CG RDECO
(25 September 2018) RDECOM's road map to modernizing the Army: Long-range precision fires
First in a series with ARDEC. AMRDEC is looking to improve the energetics and efficiency of projectiles. TARDEC Ground Vehicle Center is working on high-voltage components for Extended range cannon artillery (ERCA) that save on size and weight. Two dedicated RDECOM people support the LRPF CFT, with reachback support from two dozen more at RDECOM. In January 2019 RDECOM was reflagged as CCDC; General Mike Murray noted that CCDC will have to support more Soldier feedback, and that prototyping and testing will have to begin before a project ever becomes a program of record.

Although the Army Research Laboratory has not changed its name, Secretary Esper notes that the CCDC ''objectives'' supersede the ''activities'' of the Laboratory; the Laboratory remains in its support role for the top-six priorities for modernizing combat capabilities.

Acquisition specialists are being encouraged to accept lateral transfers to the several research, development and engineering centers (RDECs), where their skills are needed: Ground vehicle systems center (formerly TARDEC, at Detroit Arsenal. Michigan), Aviation and missile center (formerly AMRDEC, at Redstone Arsenal), C5ISR center (formerly CERDEC, at Aberdeen Proving Ground), Soldier center (formerly NSRDEC, Natick, MA), and Armaments center (formerly ARDEC, at Picatinny Arsenal) listed below.

AFC branch locations

The following activities for Futures Command are at 23 locations. (A US Army center of excellence (CoE), or TRADOC Center of Excellence, can be co-located near a CFT, along with the associated Capability Development Integration Directorate (CDID) and "Battle Lab") The interrelation between AFC and TRADOC can be seen by the role of a TRADOC Capability manager, who is responsible for DOTMLPF, and reports to the TRADOC commander.
* AFC HQ, Austin TXDavid A. Vergun Anthony Small
* AFSG Army Future Studies Group, 2530 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
* Futures and Concepts Center of AFC, formerly ARCIC Fort Eustis VA
* JMC Joint Modernization Command, Fort Bliss, which is contiguous to WSMR
* White Sands Missile Range NM, also houses ARL, TRAC, and Army Test and Evaluation Command.
* FT LVN Operations research: Mission Command Battle Lab,Maj. Chris Parker, Dr. Paul Reese, Director, Fielded Force Integration Division, COL E.J. Karlberg, Director, Combined Arms Integration Directorate, and Mr. Rich Creed, Director, Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, ''Breaking Doctrine'' podcast at Fort Leavenwort
(2020) Breaking Doctrine: Episode 14 - Transitioning the Army to MDO
1:02:44 How a Concept becomes Doctrine at TRADOC Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth DOTMLPF-P Capability development integration directorate (CDID), The Research Analysis Center (TRAC), formerly TRADOC Analysis Center,TRADOC Analysis Center
Combined Arms training center. Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth KS
** CFT: Synthetic Training Environment (STE):Army ALT Magazine (29 January 2019) THEN AND NOW: TRAINING FOR THE FUTURE
critique The HQ for STE has opened in Orlando (28 January 2019).
* CCOE Cyber CoE - (its CDID and Battle Lab), Fort Gordon GA
** CFT: Mobile and Expeditionary NetworkDavid Vergu
(29 March 2018) Army network modernization efforts spearheaded by new Cross-Functional Teams. The Army conducts a network demonstration at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Army is pursuing network modernization through Cross-Functional Teams.
/ref>
* MCOE Maneuver CoE - (its CDID and Battle Lab), Fort Benning GA
** CFT: Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV)Bob Purtiman, NGCV Cross-Functional Team (17 September 2018) Preparing for future battlefields: The Next Generation Combat Vehicle
/ref>
** CFT: Soldier Lethality
* AVNCOE Aviation CoE - (its CDID), at Fort Rucker
** CFT: Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
* FCOE Fires CoE - (its CDID and Battle Lab), Col. Yi Se Gwon, Fort Sill ''Fires Bulletin'' (September–October 2018) The Army Multi-Domain Targeting CenterArmy Multi-Domain Targeting Center (16 July 2019) Target Mensuration Only
TMO Maj. Anthony Clas, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs: (SEPTEMBER 4, 2019) Target Mensuration course: Bulldog Brigade trains target acquisition with precision Target Mensuration Only (TMO) Including TMO in a unit training plan
Maj. Anthony Clas (28 August 2019) Bulldog Brigade Trains Target Acquisition with Precision
/ref> Doctrine updates to support strategic firesKaren Flowers, Fort Sill Tribune (4 September 2020) Air defense Army Capability Manager gets new director
/ref> Fort Sill OK
** CFT: Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF)
** CFT: Air and Missile Defense
* ICOE Intelligence CoE - (its CDID), Fort Huachuca AZ
* MSCOE Maneuver Support CoE - (its CDID and Battle Lab), Fort Leonard Wood MO
* SCOE Sustainment CoE - (its CDID), Fort Lee VA
* APGAPG Guide (12 January 2019) Aberdeen Proving Ground 2019 Your road map to the ‘Home of Innovation’
with more than 90 tenant organizationsPEO Command Control Communications - Tactical (PEO C3T
(12 September 2018) ASA(ALT) MilDep talks APG's role in Futures Command
Paul Ostrowski is PMILDEP to ASA(ALT) Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen MD, also houses Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC, now called DEVCOM), formerly RDECOM, Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA), and C5ISR centerCaitlin O'Neill, PM PNT staff write
(17 November 2017) Army's PNT programs transition to PEO IEW&S
/ref>Dan Lafontaine, C5ISR Center Public Affair
(19 November 2019) C5ISR Center hosts CCDC commander for town hall, lab tours
"a renewed emphasis on collaboration across CCDC's eight research centers" (the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center was formerly CERDEC)
** CFT: Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (A-PNT)Andrew Eversde
(25 Oct 2021) Army Seeks ‘Cutting Edge’ Network-Aided PNT Technologies For Battle

*Army Applications La
(19 Oct 2021) Broad Agency Announcement Special Notice W911NF-19-S-0004 Network Aided Position Navigation and Timing solutions for dismounted Soldiers
/ref>Theresa Hitchen
(1 Nov 2021) Sandia's Atomic ‘Avocado’ Could Allow GPS-Free PNT
/ref>Tobias Naegel
(27 Nov 2022) Q&A: The New Chief of Space Operations on Empowering the Force
"one B-2 hits 80 independent targets because of GPS".—Gen. B.Chance Saltzman, Space Force
** CFT: Network CFT (N-CFT)
** CFT: Long Range Precision Fires,
* CCDC Armaments Center (formerly Armament research, development and engineering center—ARDEC), Picatinny Arsenal, PEO AMMO, and the Cross Functional Team for Long Range Precision Fires
** CFT: Long Range Precision Fires
* CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center (formerly Tank Automotive research, development and engineering center—TARDEC), Detroit Arsenal (Warren, Michigan)
** CFT: Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV)
* Army Aviation and Missile Center (formerly Aviation and Missile research, development and engineering center—AMRDEC), Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville ALRCCTO is located in Huntsville (26 August 2019)
RCCTO- About us

*
*Lee Roo

/ref>
** CFT: Air and Missile Defense
* CCDC Soldier CenterThomas Brading, Army News Servic
(23 August 2019) Soldiers 'at the heart of' modernizing warfighter gear
/ref> (formerly Natick Soldier research, development and engineering center—NSRDEC), General Greene Ave, Natick, MA
* Army Research Laboratory (ARL),Army Research Laboratory Public Affair
(25 February 2019) Army-funded researcher wins Nobel Prize
/ref>Argie Sarantinos-Perrin, CCD
(21 August 2019) Army develops cold spray technology to repair Bradley gun mounts
/ref>Army Research Laboratory (ARL) U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affair
(3 February 2020) Army develops big data approach to neuroscience
Dr. Jonathan Touryan, co-author
*The Cognition and Neuroergonomics Collaborative Technology Alliance
Automated EEG mega-analysis I: Spectral and amplitude characteristics across studies
''NeuroImage'' Volume 20, 15 February 2020, 116361
(19 Sep 2018) Automated EEG mega-analysis II: Cognitive aspects of event related features
/ref> Adelphi MD
* ARL-Orlando Army Research Laboratory, Orlando FL
* ARL West, Playa Vista CA
* ARL-RTP Army Research Laboratory, Raleigh-Durham NC
* AI task force at Carnegie-Mellon University

Need for modernization reform

Between 1995 and 2009, $32 billion was expended on programs such as the Future Combat SystemSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(8 August 2014) Pentagon Struggles To Get Small-Biz Tech
FCS misuse of OTA, other acquisition issues. (2003-2009), with no harvestable content by the time of its cancellation. As of 2021, the Army had not fielded a new combat system in decades.Thomas E. Ricks (MARCH 2, 2015)Why hasn't the Army's regular acquisition process produced anything in decades? --Future of War conference.
/ref>Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howard Army.mi

/ref>"US edge has eroded to a dangerous degree"
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(14 March 2019) Army ‘Big Six’ Ramp Up in 2021: Learning From FCS
/ref>

23rd Secretary of the Army Mark Esper has remarked that AFC will provide the unity of command and purpose needed to reduce the requirements definition phase from 60 months to 12 months.
A simple statement of a problem (rather than a full-blown requirements definition) that the Army is trying to address may suffice for a surprising, usable solution. —General Mike Murray, paraphrasing Trae StephensAUSA 2018 CMF #1: Army Futures Command Unifies Force Modernization
DVIDS video of panelists Gen. Murray, Sec. McCarthy, Dr. Jette, and Trae StephensTrae Stephens
(6 Jun 2022) Rebooting the arsenal of democracy
4 principles for the new defense companies (One task will be to quantify the lead time for identifying a requirement; the next task would then be to learn how to reduce that lead time.—Gap analysis )Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
Scott R. Gourley (Friday, 13 January 2017) CLOSING THE CAPABILITIES GAP: SEVEN THINGS THE ARMY NEEDS FOR A WINNING FUTURE
/ref> Process changes are expected. The development process will be cyclic, consisting of prototype, demonstration/testing, and evaluation, in an iterative process designed to unearth unrealistic requirements early, before prematurely including that requirement in a program of record. The 6th ASA(ALT) Bruce Jette has cautioned the acquisition community to 'call-out' unrealistic processes which commit a program to a drawn-out failure, rather than failing early, and seeking another solution.

Secretary Esper scrubbed through 800Hannah Wile
(6 April 2018) Program cuts likely under Army secretary's new Futures Command
/ref> modernization programs to reprioritize fundingJen Judso
(17 July 2018) US Army asks Congress to shift millions in FY18 dollars. What's behind the request?
/ref> for the top six modernization priorities, which will consume 80% of the modernization funding,David Vergu
(5 September 2018) Richardson confirmed as Futures Command deputy commander
/ref> of eighteen systems. IVAS was slowed during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. Secretary McCarthy had cautioned that a stopgap 2019 Continuing resolution (CR) would halt development of some of the critical modernization projects.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
24 October 2019) Sec. Army Interview: ‘We Have To Get This Budget Deal’
/ref>(22 November 2019) SecArmy looks toward FY21 budget as continuing resolution impacts priorities
CR avoids shutdown until 20 December 2019. Realistically, budget considerations will restrict the fielding of new materiel to one Armor BCT per year; at that rate, updates would take decades.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(15 January 2020) Army To Navy: Hey, We Already Get Less $$ Than You
Army: 26.6%; Navy: 28.7%; Air Force: 28.5%; Other: 16.3% The Budget Control Act (BCA) expires in 2022.Amy McCullough (7 Feb. 2020) What to Look for in the 2021 Budget Request
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(10 February 2020) Army Boosts Big Six 26%, But Trims Bradley Replacement
FY2021 budget request The "night court" budget review process realigned $2.4 billion for modernization away from programs which were not tied to modernization or to the 2018 National Defense Strategy. The total FY2021 budget request of $178 billion is $2 billion less than the enacted FY2020 budget of $180 billion.FY2021 budget request
Sean Kimmons, Army News Service (13 February 2020) Army budget request eyes $2B boost for modernization
*$10.6 billion for modernization in 2021 request, up from $8.5 billion in 2020
**LRPF: $1700 million
**FVL: $514 million
**OMFV: $328 million
**MPF: $135 million
**LTAMDS: $376 million
**IFPC $236 millionMark Cancian and Adam Saxto
(14 February 2020) 2021 Budget Spells The End of US Force Expansion
Reduced topline $740.5 billion; Army remains at 31 BCTs, 5 SFABs, and 11 CABs.

The CIO/G6 has targeted Futures Command (Austin) in 2019 as the first pilot for "enterprise IT-as-a-service"-style service contracts; General Murray now (July 2019) has a sensitive compartmented information facility in his headquarters, as a result of this pilot. Two other locations are to be announced for 2019. Six to eight other pilots are envisioned for 2020. However, 288 other enterprise network locations remain to be migrated away from the previous "big bang" migration concept from several years ago, as they are vulnerable to near-peer cyber threats. The CIO/G6 emphasizes that this enterprise migration is not the tactical network espoused in the top six priorities (a 'mobile & expeditionary Army network').Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(5 March 2019) Army Bets Big On Service Contracts To Fix Aging IT
/ref>Maj. Gen. Randy S. Taylor, CECO
(8 July 2019) Sustaining data delivery on the future Army network
Halt, fix pivot (WIN-T), ITN: Integrated Tactical Network , IEN: Integrated Enterprise Network
#After AFC, the following G6 service contracts are high priority:
#The Combat Training Centers (Fort Irwin, Fort Polk, and Grafenwöhr)
# TRADOC and its Centers of Excellence (CoEs)
#The power projection bases from which deployments spring

By February 2020 the 37th Vice Chief of Staff could assess that Army modernization was perceptibly speeding up.Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(7 February 2020) Vice chief of staff: Speed of modernization no longer at 'glacial pace'
/ref>

Silos

Chief Milley noted that AFC would actively reach out into the community in order to learn,Sean Kimmons, Army News Service (11 July 2019) and that Senator John McCain's frank criticism of the acquisition process was instrumental for modernization reform at Futures command. In fact, AFC soldiers would blend into Austin by not wearing their uniforms o work side by side with civilians in the tech hubsJoyce M. Conant, ARL Public Affairs (19 Feb 2016) ARL West hires its first employee, meet Dr. Benjamin T. Files
/ref> Milley noted on 24 August 2018 press conference. Secretary Esper said he expected failures during the process of learning how to reform the acquisition and modernization process; the Network CFT and PEO have detected a process failure in the DOT&E
/ref> requirements process: some test requirements were inappropriately applied.

In the Department of Defense, the materiel supply process was underwritten by the acquisition, logistics, and technology directorate of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), with a deputy secretary of defense (DSD) to oversee five areas, one of them being acquisition, logistics, and technology (ALT). ALT is overseen by an under secretary of defense (USD). (Each of the echelons at the level of DSD and USD serve at the pleasure of the president, as does the secretary of defense (SECDEF).) The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) trains acquisition professionals for the Army as well.

In 2016 when RDECOM reported to AMC (instead of to AFC, as it does as of 2018), AMC instituted Life cycle management command (LCMC) of three of RDECOM's centers for aviation and missiles, electronics, and tanks: AMRDEC, CERDEC,Megan Paic
(26 July 2018) From RDECOM to CECOM
/ref> and TARDEC respectively, as well as the three contractingEd Worle
(2 November 2018) ACC celebrates 10 years of enabling readiness, modernization
Contracting officers are embedded with every CFT functions for the three centers.United States Government Accountability Office (GAO
Report: GAO-17-457 (Jun 2017) ARMY CONTRACTING Leadership Lacks Information Needed to Evaluate and Improve Operations
/ref>

This Life Cycle Management (formulated in 2004)Ker

/ref> was intended to exert the kind of operational control (OPCON)JP-1
p.xxi has the definition of operational control (OPCON). Note that "command authority may not be delegated" (COCOM being command authority). p.xxii has the definition of administrative control (ADCON): one application being coordinating authority.
see also C. Berry (3 May 2010) Understanding OPCON
(COCOM is the legal authority of a combatant commander ( CCDR).) OPCON, on the other hand, "is derived from the authorities of COCOM and delineated in JP-1". needed just for the sustainment function (AMC's need for Readiness today), rather than for its relevance to modernization for the future, which is the focus of AFC. AFC now serves as the deciding authority when moving a project in its Life Cycle, out of the Acquisition phase and into the Sustainment phase.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Acquisition Executive, and the AFC commander created a COVID-19 task force to try to project supplier problems 30, 60, and 90 days out; they are respectively tracking 800 programs, and 35 priorities on a daily basis.Jon Harpe
(3 April 2020) COVID-19 NEWS: Army Trying to Mitigate Disruptions for Top Modernization Programs
*Devon Suits, Army News Servic
(7 April 2020) Army looks to keep critical modernization programs on schedule
"800 acquisition, logistics, and technology-related programs and nearly 35 key modernization priorities"
*Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(23 April 2020) COVID-19 Won't Slow New Army Weapons: McCarthy, Murray, Jette
Subcontractors are holding to their schedules when making up for COVID-19 shutdowns

Relevance for modernization

The CFTs, as prioritized 1 through 6 by the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), each have to consider constraints: a balance of requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment.

The Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and education, Personnel and Facilities (DOTMLPF) method of mission planning was instituted to quantify tradeoffs in joint planning. TRADOC's Mission Command CoE uses DOTMLPF.Mission Command Center of Excellence (MCCoE)
/ref>
DOTMLPF will be used for modernization of the Army beyond materiel alone, which (as of 2019) is the current focus of the CFTs.Headquarters, Dept of the Army (July 2019) ADP 6-0 Mission Command: Command and Control of Army Forces
4 chapters. See also ADP 3-0; ADP 6-22; FM 6-22; ADP 1-1; and ADP 5-0
The updated modernization strategy, to move from concept to doctrine as well, will be unveiled by summer 2019.
DOTMLPF (doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities) itself is planned as a driver for modernization.Connie Lee (3/26/2019) NEWS FROM AUSA GLOBAL: Army Fleshing Out Updated Modernization Strategy
/ref> The plan is to have an MDO-capable Army by 2028, and an MDO-ready Army by 2035.

TRADOC, ASA (ALT), and AFC are tied together in this process, according to 36th Vice Chief McConville. AFC will have to be "a little bit disruptive ut not upsetting to the existing order in order to institute reforms within budget in a timely way.Sydney Freeber
(6 September 2018) ‘A Little Bit Disruptive’: Murray & McCarthy On Army Futures Command
/ref>

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology —ASA (ALT)— is the civilian executive overseeing both the acquisition and the sustainment processes of the Department of the Army (as of 2018: Dr. Bruce Jette was 6th ASA(ALT)). The ASA(ALT) will coordinate the acquisition portion of modernization reform with AFC.

Congress has given the Army Other Transaction Authority (OTA), which allows the PEOs to enter into Full Rate Production quicker by permitting the services to control their own programs of record, rather than DoD. This strips out one layer of bureaucracy as of 2018.Paul McClear
(31 December 2018) Amidst Turmoil, Pentagon Persists On Acquisition Reform: Ellen Lord
/ref>
MTA (middle tier acquisition authority) is another tool available to Program Managers and Contracting Officers. Mr. Kinsey Kiriakos (ASA (ALT)
(20 November 2019) Army Acquisition Leaders Must "Speak Truth To Power"
MTA and OTA

Besides the AFC CFTS, the Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC)Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(14 December 2018) Army Bradley Brigade Will Get Israeli Anti-Missile System: Iron Fist
/ref>Lt. Gen. John M. Murray, deputy chief of staff, G-8 (8 September 2016) Modernization vital to joint force success
/ref> could also play a part in acquisition reform;Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(27 August 2018) Can Army Futures Command Overcome Decades Of Dysfunction?
/ref>HQ Dept of the Army (22 July 2011) Army Acquisition Policy
Army Regulation 70–1 as of September 2018 the Deputy Chief of Staff G-8 (DCS G-8), who leads AROC and JROC (Joint Requirements Oversight Council) has aligned with the priorities of AFC.Devon L. Suits (19 September 2018) New G-8 embraces streamlining tech acquisition
/ref>
The DCS G-8 is principal military advisor to the ASA (FM&C).Army Directive 2018-15 (U.S. Army Futures Command Relationship With the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)
and DCS G-8, 27 August 2018

In addition, the Program Executive Officers ( PEOs) of ASA (ALT) are to maintain a dotted-line relationship (i.e., coordination) with Futures Command.

There is now a PEO for Rapid Capabilities, to get rapid turnaround. The Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO)'s PEO gets two program managers, one for rapid prototyping, and one for rapid acquisition, of a capability. The Rapid capabilities office (RCO) does not develop its own requirements; rather, the RCO gets the requirements from the Cross-functional team (CFT).Jen Judso
(7 Oct 2018) Army Rapid Capabilities Office realigned to focus on top modernization priorities
/ref> Rapid Capabilities (RCO) was headed by Tanya Skeen as PEO RCO but Skeen moved to DoD, in late 2018.RCCTO (2019) About Us
/ref> In 2019 RCO became the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO)RC
RCCTO (2019) Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office
/ref> Redstone Arsenal, headed by LTG L. Neil Thurgood, lately of ASA (ALT)'s Army Hypersonics office.Jen Judso
(13 March 2019) Army Rapid Capabilities Office is getting a new name and mission
/ref>

Progress toward MDO

Then-CG of Army Futures Command (AFC) Gen. Murray announced full operational capability (FOC) 31 July 2019.Jon Harper (7/17/2019) BREAKING: Army Futures Command to Reach Full Operational Capability by End of Month
/ref> By 2021 the Army's 40th Chief of Staff could lay out Waypoint 2028, and Aimpoint 2035 for the Army.

The Army G8 is monitoring just how producible (Milestone C) the upcoming materiel will be; for the moment, the G8 is funding the materiel.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(19 September 2019) Can Army Control Costs Of Its New Weapons?
Currently the Army has 692 programs of record Follow-up on Modernization reviews is forthcoming, on a regular basis, according to the G8.Joe Lacda
(19 September 2019) G-8: Army operations in the Pacific crucial to future battlefield success
Follow-up on Modernization Reviews is forthcoming, on a regular basis.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(20 September 2019) Congress’ Budget Gridlock Threatens Army Hypersonics
G8 is posing a heuristic to get beyond delay in NDAA (national defense authorization act) for 2020 (get Army funding by calendar year-end)
*Jacob Pramu

CR funds the government until 21 Nov 2019Follow-up FY2021 Budget Request: Thomas Brading, Army News Service
(5 March 2020) Hypersonic tests, modernization top Army budget request
for funding of the top 6 modernization priorities; progress on the spend plan for tests of the prototypes vs actual spending

The progress in the top six priorities (long-range precision fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, Future Vertical Lift platforms, a mobile & expeditionary Army network, air & missile defense capabilities, and soldier lethality) being: ASA(ALT)br>Weapon Systems Handbook 2018update
/ref>Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(18 July 2019) Futures Command showcases efforts ahead of upcoming FOC
/ref>Yasmin Tadjde
(10/10/2018) Army to Focus on Defeating Enemies’ Standoff Capabilities
Summary of standoff

Long Range Precision Fires

According to AFC, the mission of the Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) CFT is to "deliver cutting-edge surface-to-surface (SSM) fires systems that will significantly increase range and effects over currently fielded US and adversary systems."

AFC's five major programs for LRPF are:

* The Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program which develops a system capable of firing accurately at targets beyond 70 km as opposed to the M109A7's 30 km current range
* The Precision Strike Mission (PrSM) which is a precision-strike guided SSM fired from the M270A1 MLRS and M142 HIMARS doubling the present rate-of-fire with two missiles per launch pod
* The Strategic Long-Range Cannon (SLRC) program, which would have developed a system that could have fired a hypersonic projectile up to 1,000 miles against air defense, artillery, missile systems, and command and control targetsJen Judso
(14 Oct 2019) Strategic, long-range cannon preps to jump its first tech hurdle
2019 AUSA— targets 2023 prototype was terminated 23 May 2022.Jen Judson
(23 May 2022) US Army terminates Strategic Long-Range Cannon science and technology effort
/ref>
* The Common-Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) is a collaborative program between the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) which is planned to become the base of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) program
* A ground-launchable UGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, as well as the SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) to fill the gap in the Army's mid-range missile capabilities has been delivered to RCCTO.Emma Helfric
(6 Dec 2022) First Land-Based Tomahawk And SM-6 Launcher Delivered To Army
RCCTO

Based on Futures Command's development between July 2018 and December 2020, by 2023 the earliest versions of these weapons will be fielded:Dan Gour�

/ref>

The kill chains will take less than 1 minute, from detection of the target, to execution of the fires command; these operations will have the capability to precisely strike "command centers, air defenses, missile batteries, and logistics centers" nearly simultaneously.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(22 Mar 2021) Army Missiles, Missile Defense Race Budget Crunch To 2023
/ref>
* The speed of battle damage assessment will depend on the travel time of the munition. This capability depends on the ability of a specialized CFT, Assured precision navigation and timing (APNT) to provide detail.
*# Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF): Howitzer artillery ranges have doubled, in excess of , with accuracy within 1 meter of the aimpoint, currently with sufficient accuracy to intercept cruise missiles, as of September 2020, reaching the 43 mile range as of December 2020.Ben Wolfgan
(22 Dec 2020) Army's long-range cannon hits target 43 miles away
/ref>
*# Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) can reach in excess of 150 miles, with current 2020 tests
*# Mid-range capability (MRC) fires can reach in excess of 500 to 1000 miles, using mature Navy missilesSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(12 Mar 2021) Joint World Warms Up To Army Long-Range Missiles
Capabilities of MDTF
*# Long-Range Hypersonic Weapons (LRHWs) are to have a range greater than 1725 miles.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(12 May 2021) Army Discloses Hypersonic LRHW Range Of 1,725 Miles; Watch Out China
/ref>

The current M109A6 "Paladin" howitzer range is doubled in the M109A7 variant.Defense Update
U.S ARMY's EXTENDED RANGE CANNON ARTILLERY CREATES WORLD RECORD , HITS TARGET AT 43 MILES or 70 KM !
/ref>David Vergun, Army News Servic
(13 September 2018) Cross-functional teams already producing results, says Futures Command general
House Armed Services Sub-committee hearing, 13 September 2018 An operational test of components of the Long range cannon was scheduled for 2020.Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, Army Rapid Capabilities Offic
(20 September 2018) Army doubles cannon range in prototype demo
/ref> The LRC is complementary to Extended range cannon artillery (ERCA),Defense updates (14 Dec 2018) EXTENDED RANGE CANNON ARTILLERY OF U S ARMY- FULL ANALYSIS
5:00 clip. XM1113 shell and XM657 propellant on XM907 the M1299 Extended Range Cannon Artillery howitzer. Baseline ERCA is to enter service in 2023.Todd Sout
(11 Mar 2020) The Army is ‘making artillery great again’
Press conference.US Arm
(27 May 2020) Excalibur Round Precision Hit From 65 kilometers at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground
/ref> Investigations for ERCA in 2025: rocket-boosted artillery shells: Tests of the Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) XM30 rocket shell have demonstrated a near-doubling of the range of the munition, using the Tail controlled guided multiple launch rocket system, or TC-G.Devon L. Suits, Army News Servic
(8 May 2019) Army demonstrates extended ranges for precision munitions
/ref> The TRADOC capability manager (TCM) Field Artillery Brigade - DIVARTY has been named a command position.
*An autoloader for ERCA's 95-pound shells is under development at Picatinny Arsenal, to support a sustained firing rate of 10 rounds a minute Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(16 Apr 2021) ERCA: Army Contracts To Help New Cannon ‘Fire Faster’
/ref> A robotic vehicle for carrying the shells is a separate effort at Futures Command's Army Applications Lab.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(27 January 2020) Artillery Seeks Robot Ammo Haulers
Field Artillery Autonomous Resupply
* The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is intended to replace the Army Tactical Missile System (MGM-140 ATACMS) in 2023. PrSM flight testing is delayed beyond 2 August 2019, the anticipated date for the expiration of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which set 499 kilometer limits on intermediate-range missiles.Paul McLear
(19 July 2019) Army Readies Long-Range Missile Tests—Post INF
/ref> (David Sanger and Edward Wong projected that the earliest test of a longer range missile could be a ground-launched version of a Tomahawk cruise missile,David Sanger and Edward Wong ''The New York Times'' (2 August 2019) US ends cold war missile treaty, to counter arms buildup by China. p.A7
* ROBERT BURNS AND LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press
(19 August 2019) Pentagon conducts first test of previously banned missile
followed by a test of a mobile ground launched IRBM with a range of 1800–2500 miles before year-end 2019.Paul McCleary
(12 Dec 2019) US Busts INF Wall With Ballistic Missile, Puts Putin & Xi On Notice
/ref>) The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020
Senate report 116-48
H.R.2500 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020Nicole Ogrysko (20 December 2019 10:35 pm ) Trump signs shutdown-averting spending bills, makes federal pay raise law
The signing occurred in time on that day, which avoided the 11:59pm shutdown trigger

/ref> was approved on 9 December 2019, which allowed the Pentagon to continue testing such missiles in FY2020.Brendan Deverau
(28 Jan 2022) WHY INTERMEDIATE-RANGE MISSILES ARE A FOCAL POINT IN THE UKRAINE CRISIS
/ref> The Lockheed PrSM prototype had its first launch on 10 December 2019 at White Sands Missile Range, in a 150-mile test, and an overhead detonation; the Raytheon PrSM prototype was delayed from its planned November launch,Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(10 December 2019) Direct Hit: Army Test-Fires Lockheed Precision Strike Missile EXCLUSIVE
*Clark Schult
(10 Dec. 2019) Lockheed Martin missile test goes off well
/ref> and Raytheon has now withdrawn from the PrSM risk reduction phase. The PrSM's range and accuracy, the interfaces to HIMARS launcher, and test software, met expectations.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(19 Mar 2020) PRSM: Lockheed Long-Range Missile Passes Short-Range Stress Test
3 layers of LRPF are scheduled to enter service in limited numbers in 2023; also explains its relationship to Future vertical lift (FVL) and Mobile & expeditionary network
PrSM passed Milestone B on 1 October 2021. Baseline PrSM is to enter service in 2023;Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(30 Apr 2020) Army: Lockheed PrSM Missile Aces Third Flight Test

*2023 goal is to deliver 30 PrSMs with 500 km range
*2025 goal is to use multi-mode seekers against moving targets
*Use open architecture to allow multiple vendors to offer upgrades
*Provide extended range (beyond 650-700 km) within the existing HIMARS MLRS form factor an upgraded version of PrSM, with multi-mode seekers will then be sought.Andrew Eversde
(3 May 2027) The Army could get its next-gen Precision Strike Missiles in FY27
/ref>
* For targets beyond the PrSM's range, the Army's RCCTO will seek a mid-range missile prototype by 2023, with a reach from 1000 to 2000 miles.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(08 September 2020) Army Seeks New Mid-Range Missile Prototype By 2023
1000 mile missile needed.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(14 October 2020) Army Asks Hill For New Mid-Range Missile $$$ ASAP: Thurgood
Fund the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) with 2020 Above Threshold Reprogramming (ATR).Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(13 October 2020) China, Russia Threats To Drive What Army Keeps & Cuts: Gen. Murray
TRAC needs to produce its reports in 3 months or faster. Loren Thompson points out that a spectrum of medium-range to long-range weapons will be available to the service by 2023;Loren Thompso
(12 Apr 2021) Air Power Advocates Are Attacking Army Long-Range Strike Plans. Here's Why They're Wrong.
/ref> RCCTO's prototype Mid-Range Capability (MRC) battery will field mature Navy missiles, likely for the Indo-Pacific theater in FY2023.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(6 November 2020) Army Picks Tomahawk & SM-6 For Mid-Range Missiles
Tomahawk (missile) and SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) DARPA is developing OpFires, an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon which is shorter-range than the Army's LRHW. DARPA is seeking a role in the armory for OpFires' throttle-able rocket motor, post-2023.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(23 October 2020) DARPA's Hypersonic OpFires Aims For Army 1,000-Mile Missile
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(13 November 2018) Beyond INF: Countering Russia, Countering China (Analysis)
/ref> DARPA announced in July 2022 it successfully tested its OpFires hypersonic weapon at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) for the first time.Mike Ston

The OpFires launch was from a Marine Corps logistics truck.John Vandive

/ref> OpFires will "rapidly and precisely engage critical, time-sensitive targets while penetrating modern enemy air defenses", potentially to be launched from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher. These weapons will likely require planning for new Army (or Joint) formations.
* The Long range hypersonic weapons (LRHWs) will use precision targeting data against anti-access area denial (A2AD) radars and other critical infrastructure of near-peer competitors by 2023. LRHW does depend on stable funding.Bill Greenwalt
(13 Dec 2021) New defense budget commission could be last hope for fixing DoD spending
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(28 Feb 2020) Army Ramps Up Funding For Laser Shield, Hypersonic Sword
In FY2021 HELs funding is up 209 percent; LRHW funding is up 86 percent. RCCTO spending is $1 billion in 2021.Corey Dickstei
(3 March 2020) Army to fire two hypersonic test shots this year, McCarthy says
/ref>
** Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) 7.0 is the vehicle for a Multi-domain task force's artillery battery very similar to a THAAD battery: beginning in 2020, these batteries will train for a hypersonic glide vehicle which is common to the Joint forces.Sean Kimmons, Army News Service The Long range hypersonic weapon (LRHW)Ryan Pickrel
(5 June 2019) The US Army says it will have hypersonic missiles and laser weapons ready for combat in less than 4 years
/ref> glide vehicle is to be launched from transporter erector launchers.Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO
(12 February 2020) Virtual Reality helps Soldiers shape Army hypersonic weapon prototype
LRHW Tests of the Common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) to be used by the Army and Navy were meeting expectations in 2020.
**In August 2020 the director of Assured precision navigation and timing (APNT) CFT announced tests which integrate the entire fires kill chain, from initial detection to final destruction. William B. Nelson announced the flow of satellite data from the European theater (Germany), and AI processing of AFATDS targeting data to the fires units.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(5 August 2020) Army Tests New All Domain Kill Chain: From Space To AI
#Initially, satellites feed data to TITAN.
#Prometheus, which is AI software, combs through the data for potential threats and targets.
#SHOT, which is also software, tracks each target on a custody list, correlating each target's current location, signature, and threat assessment, with a list of candidate fires countermeasures, ranked by capability, range to the target, kill radius, etc. "SHOT then computes the optimal match of weapons to targets", and passes the list to AFATDS.
#Human commanders choose whether to fire, or not, from the list of fires assets (Nelson notes that ERCA and Grey Eagle drones are to be added to the list of fires assets—currently M777 howitzers and MLRS 270 rocket launchers in the upcoming tests, August 2020).
#satellites perform Battle damage assessment, to update the list of threats and targets.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(14 August 2020) Can Army Intel Data Feed The Kill Chain?
Quickly pooling data will take AI and cloud—"Project Convergence"Nathan Strou
(29 Apr 2022) Army Futures Command learning from Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Satellite "sensors also need to be better integrated with Army systems, to the point that satellite data can be downlinked directly to the battlefield".—Willie Nelson, Deputy Asst Sec Army
***In September 2020 an AI kill chain was formulated in seconds; a hypervelocity (speeds up to Mach 5) munition,Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(26 January 2018) $86,000 + 5,600 MPH = Hyper Velocity Missile Defense
/ref> launched from a descendant of the Paladin, intercepted a cruise missile surrogate.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(10 September 2020) Target Gone In 20 Seconds: Army Sensor-Shooter Test
/ref>
**Three flight tests of LRHW were scheduled in 2021;Matthew Co

/ref> that plan was changed to one test in late 2021, followed by a multi-missile test in 2022.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(21 Oct 2020) LRPF: Army Missiles, Cannon Face Big Tests In ’21
/ref>Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Offic
(16 February 2021) Speeding ahead: Hypersonics team stays on track to deliver despite pandemic
/ref>
The LRHW has been named 'Dark Eagle' Theresa Hitchens The first LRHW battery will start to receive its first operational rounds in early FY2023; all eight rounds for this battery will have been delivered by FY2023.Andrew Eversde
(15 Oct 2021) First Live Hypersonic Missile Rounds To Be Delivered to Army Unit Next Year
/ref> By then, the PEO Missiles and Space will have picked up the LRHW program, for batteries two and three in FY'25 and FY'27, respectively. Battery one will first train, and then participate in the LRHW flight test launches in FY'22 and FY'23.Patrick Tucke
(21 Oct 2022) The Military’s Network Warfare Experiment Scaled Up This Year
/ref>

Next Generation Combat Vehicle

Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) portfolio:Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(5 Apr 2021) Faster, Tougher, Smarter: Army's Future Armored Force EXCLUSIVE
AMPV, OMFV, MBT, RCVGVSC Public Affair
(7 October 2019) Virtual experiments helping shape Next-Generation Combat Vehicle
/ref>Defense & Aerospace Repor
(12 Oct 2016) US Army Ground Combat Systems Chief on Armored Vehicle Programs
/ref>

The use of modular protection is a move toward modular functionality for combat vehicles.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(17 Feb 2021) Army Tests New Active Protection For Abrams, Bradley, AMPV & Stryker
/ref>Marty Beckerma
(17 October 2018) A serious participation Trophy
*''See Active protection system#Reactive armor''

At Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), Firestorm (a Project Convergence AI node)Spc. Carlos Cuebas Fantauzzi, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachmen
(11 September 2020) Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team converges efforts during Project Convergence 20
Shortened time developing Common operating picture to 30 secondsSgt. 1st Class Will Reinie
(10 September 2020) Campaign of learning: U.S. Army, AFC introduce Project Convergence
/ref>Army Futures Comman
(Monday, 14 September 2020) Project Convergence
/ref> sent targeting coordinates to Remote Weapons Stations, which were proxies for the Robotic Combat Vehicles and Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicles. A CROWS was slewed to the aimpoint, awaiting the human commander's order to fire.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(16 September 2020) A Slew To A Kill: Project Convergence
/ref> Firestorm aids and partakes of the Common operational picture (COP) shared by the AI hub at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.Matthew Co
(20 Sep 2020) Army's New Target Tracking System Aims to Quicken Artillery Kills
"artificial intelligence to improve human decision-making; autonomy; and robotics" Satellite-based, F-35 based, and Army ground-based targeting data were shared in real-time during Firestorm's operation with the AI hubs to produce effects at YPG.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(24 September 2020) Marine F-35s Share Targeting Data With Army: Project Convergence
/ref>

Firestorm was made possible by a mesh network—improvising a medium earth orbit (MEO, at 1200 mile altitude), and then a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO, at 22,000 mile altitude) satellite link between Joint Base Lewis-McChord to Yuma Proving Ground.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 Sep 2020) ‘Improvised Mode’: The Army Network Evolves In Project Convergence
used a mesh network—50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion—Enhanced (ESB-E) was able to improvise a MEO satellite link in June 2020, to complete the link from JBLM to YPG
Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): in Limited User Tests General purpose variant supports Blue force tracking
An Advanced Powertrain Demonstrator, compact enough for AMPVs, Bradleys, OMFVs, or RCVs, can generate 1,000 horsepower from diesel.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(12 Dec 2019) Army Revs Up High-Tech Tank Engine
/ref> Alternatively, the demonstrator can generate electrical power: 160 kiloWatts for SHORAD high-energy lasers, or for propulsion of a 50-ton vehicle in quiet mode, for brief periods.
A ground mobility vehicle competition, bids closing 26 October 2018

The JLTV was approved for full rate production in June 2019.Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support
(21 June 2019) Army approves JLTV Full-Rate Production
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 June 2019) JLTV: Army Approves Full-Rate Production Despite Doubts
/ref> Joint Modernization Command (JMC) is supporting a TCM Stryker study on the optimum number of JLTVs for light infantry brigades.Jonathan Koester, Joint Modernization Command http://fortblissbugle.com/2019/09/10/newest-army-vehicle-arrives-on-fort-bliss/ (10 September 2019) Newest Army vehicle arrives on Fort Bliss.
Electrification microgrid standardsYasmin Tajde
(5 Oct 2021) Army Investing in Hybrid Power Microgrids
Electrification microgrid and network standards: TMS, HPS Jaspreet Gil
(18 Oct 2022) As Army begins electrification push, C5ISR office aims to smooth bumps in the road
$6.8 billion for Army's climate strategy, including tactical microgrids.
AFC's Futures and concepts center is proposing a strategy to guide the electrification of the GCVs, using the JLTV as an example for a step-by-step pathway and transition plan for electrification.Matthew Co

/ref> Loren Thompson cautions that electrification per se could harm further fielding due to scope creep in specifications for the JLTV.Loren Thompso
(29 Jan 2021) Turning The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Into A Science Fair Would Be Dangerous For Warfighters
/ref> The Army has not requested a hybrid electric JLTV.

The Maneuver CDID (MCDID) is undertaking the requirements development for electrification of Tactical and Combat Vehicles in September 2020;Matthew Co

/ref> General Wesley had previously announced a plan in April 2020 for the modernization of Tactical and Combat Vehicles using the JLTV electrification plan as a prototype template of the electrification process.
After prototype JLTV electrification, the Army is seeking ideasSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(22 April 2021) Electric Battlefield: Army Awards $600K For R&D
/ref> for an electrified Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV) by 2025.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(7 October 2020) Army Seeks Electric Scout By 2025
ELRV to complement Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel-powered mobile charging sites for these expeditionary vehicles. The LRVs would complement the Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISVs), and electrified versions of Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle - Dragoon which are already fielded.Jeff Marti
(2019/10/22) Video: 30mm cannons and a new network: Here's what the Stryker brigade of the future will look like
Video interview, Col. William Venable GM Defense has since converted one of its bid vehicles for the ISV to an all-electric version.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(4 May 2021) GM Defense: New President, New Factory, New Electric Truck
/ref>Jen Judso
(21 May 2021) Army wraps up industry demo for future electric light recon vehicle
eLRV: A possible future prototyping program

Mobile Protected Firepower approved by joint requirements oversight council. Two vendors were selected to build competing prototype light tanks (MPF), with contract award in 2022.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(17 December 2018) Army Picks BAE, GD For MPF Light Tank Prototypes: Upstart SAIC Is Out
/ref> A unit of 82nd Airborne Division will begin assessment of prototype MPFs beginning in March 2020.Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(27 June 2019) 82nd Airborne infantry Soldiers to test light tank next year
/ref> General Dynamics Land Systems will build 42 MPFs, a battalion of light infantry tanks by FY2025.Jen Judso
(28 Jun 2022) US Army unveils contract to build new light tank for infantry forces
General Dynamics Land Systems
*Andrew Eversde
(28 Jun 2022) General Dynamics wins $1.14 billion Mobile Protected Firepower contract
/ref>

Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV): soliciting input, in requirements definition stage; the 2018 requirement was that 2 OMFVs fit in a C-17.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(7 February 2020) Army Reboots OMFV, 2026 Deadline Dropped
OMFV project starts over again; drops requirement that 2 fit on a C-17 as premature, does not insist on 2026 deadline; approach is less top-down
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(16 January 2020) Failing Fast: Army Reboots Bradley Replacement, OMFV
/ref> A request for proposal for a vehicle prototype was placed 29 March 2019.Andrew Feickert, CRS Report for Congress, R4551
(10/10/2019) Army's Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program: Background and Issues for Congress --Updated 10 October 2019
abstract. Details in pdf On 16 January 2020 the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle solicitation was cancelled, as a middle tier acquisition in its early stage; the requirements and schedule are being revisited.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 January 2020) Army ‘Fully Committed To Replacing The Bradley’: Gen. McConville
Bradley fighting vehicle replacement is still a project
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(23 January 2020) Bradley Replacement: Did Army Ask For ‘Unobtainium’?
*U.S. Army Public Affair
(16 January 2020) Army decides to cancel current OMFV solicitation
*U.S. Army Public Affair
(7 February 2020) Army aggressively moves forward on OMFV, seeks industry input on path forward
"We are not releasing a prescribed set of requirements -- we are describing the problem set and giving industry the freedom to be creative and innovative in their approach" —Gen. John (Mike) Murray
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(26 February 2020) OMFV: Army Seeks Industry Advice On Bradley Replacement
/ref> The FY2021 budget request has been adjusted accordingly.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(10 April 2020) Army Revamps OMFV Bradley Replacement For Russian Front
OMFV digital designs by 2023, prototypes by 2025, operational by 2028
*OMF
OPTIONALLY MANNED FIGHTING VEHICLE (OMFV) INDUSTRY DAY & PROGRAM QUESTIONS (9-April-2020)
14 pages
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(11 Mar 2021) A War With China Would Spread To Land, Says Army Tanker
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(19 April 2021) OMFV: Korea's Hanwha Is Officially In
Partner with Oshkosh

An Army development team will not be an OMFV competitor as of 17 September 2020.
NGCV optionally manned fighting vehicle: OMFV is getting some industry silhouettesSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(15 Apr 2021) OMFV: Army gets BAE, GD Designs For Bradley Replacement: BAE's press release features a shadowy silhouette of a previously unseen vehicle. Could this be BAE's proposal for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle?
/ref> which may be incorporated in digital designs for 2023, prototypes by 2025. A fifth OMFV bidder (a small business) is still a contender in the competition, includes large consortia.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(20 Apr 2021) OMFV: Why Small Biz MettleOps Has A Shot
/ref> However, Mark Cancian points out that OMFV might not be suitable for a pivot to the Pacific theater.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(26 Apr 2021) OMFV: Army's Bradley Replacement Faces Hill, DoD Skeptics
/ref>

A hybrid electrified Bradley Fighting Vehicle is slated for January 2022 by RCCTO.Andrew Eversde
(29 Nov 2021) Army plans to turn on first hybrid electric Bradley in January
/ref>
Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCVs):Army ALT Magazine, Commentar
(20 March 2019) Driving the Future
/ref> General Murray envisions that by FY2023 critical decisions will be made on RCVs after years of experimentation.Army.mil Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(20 November 2019) The Army's Got A Universal Robot Driver
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(12 Oct 2022) Lighter, hybrid, & highly automated: the Army’s next-gen armor
"Experimental Robotic Combat Vehicles and virtual designs for Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicles" .. "OMFV will be entirely based on open-architecture standards" Russia's Uran-9 (Уран-9) is not a robotic tank; rather it is an unmanned radio-controlled drone tank. A Next Generation main battle tankDavid Vergun, Army News Servic
(9 October 2018) Next Generation Combat Vehicles to replace Bradley starting fiscal year 2026
/ref>Binko
(3 Mar 2021) Will Abrams be replaced with a new tank? And what will it be?
/ref> remains a § Future concept.

Future Vertical Lift

Future Vertical Lift (FVL) is a plan for a family of military helicopters for the United States Armed Forces using common elements such as sensors avionics and engines.New Army aircraft will be durable, lethal, unmanned for modern conflicts
/ref> Five different sizes of aircraft are to be developed, to replace the wide range of rotorcraft in use. The project began in 2009. By 2014, the SB-1 Defiant and V-280 Valor had been chosen as demonstrators. On 5 December 2022 Bell's V-280 was chosen for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft; the first phase of the contract award will be for a virtual prototype.Marcus Weisgerbe
(5 December 2022) Army Chooses Bell V-280 to Replace Its Black Hawk Helicopters
/ref> Bel
(2021) Bell Master Avuators
Retired CWSs give their perspective: operations, maintenance, training, tactics, capability
* The FVL CFT has secured approval for the requirements in all four of its Lines of Effort:Sean Kimmons, Army News Servic
(11 June 2020) Future Vertical Lift pushes forward with new requirements
/ref>

Future Vertical Lift will use the DoD modular open systems approach (MOSA), an integrated business and technical strategy in FARA, and in FLRAASydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(3 October 2018) Army Wants Revolutionary Scout Aircraft For $30 Million, Same As Apache E
FARA SolicitationEric Adam
(5 July 2019) The Pirouetting S-97 Raider Makes Your Helicopter Look Lazy
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. and Richard Whittl
(23 October 2019) Tilting Wings, Tilting Tailprop, But Not A Tiltrotor: Karem's FARA Design
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. and Richard Whittl
(23 October 2019) Bell 360: Will Slower & Steadier Win The Race For FARA?
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(13 March 2020) MOSA: The Invisible, Digital Backbone Of FVL
Modular Open System ArchitectureSydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(28 March 2019) FVL: Next Steps For UH-60 & Shadow Replacements In ‘Weeks’
/ref>Sean Kimmon
(24 October 2018) Future Vertical Lift projects to build on recent progress
FVL Deliverables—1: Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstration (JMR). 2: Analysis of alternatives (AoA). Phase II award—2020–2023Jen Judso
(4 April 2019) US Army plans to field a future long-range assault helicopter by 2030
FLRAA
*RFI posted on the Federal Business Opportunities, 4 April
*Contract award: fourth quarter of FY21
*preliminary design review (PDR) second quarter of FY23
*first flight in the third quarter of FY24
*critical design review (CDR) in the fourth quarter of FY24
*fielding to first unit in second quarter of FY30 Both FLRAA and FARA are to enter service by Fiscal Year 2030.Steve Trimbl
(24 July 2020) U.S. Army Upgrades Vision For Future Vertical Lift Programs
/ref> By abstracting its requirements, the Army was able to request prototypes which used new technologies.

Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) prototypes are to be built by two teams to replace Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawks with Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA).FLRAA, JMR-TD: Flight test

*ARL Public Affair
(1 February 2019) Army engineers get hands-on with futuristic tiltrotor aircraft
data gathering in process on one prototype (a tiltrotor).
*Jen Judso
(9 October 2018) Road to Future Vertical Lift: Defiant preps for first flight, Valor leaves the nest
V280 vertical climb record
*First flight for the other prototype (contra-rotating rotors) slipped to 2019, (Aaron Meht
(12 December 2018) First flight for Defiant delayed to 2019)
in part because the Army asked that this manufacturer try out automated fiber placement in the rotors, which need to be extremely rigid to minimize vibration.(Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(2 October 2018) SB>1 vs V280

*If successful, this technique will mean more efficient helicopter production in larger numbers.
*The 2nd manufacturer's prototype December 2018 attempts to first reach 15 hours of reliable ground performance resulted in fixes that affected its fit, form, and function; hence its first flight is expected in 2019; its First flight has occurred.
**Tyler Rogoway and Joseph Trevithick
(21 March 2019) Watch Sikorsky And Boeing's SB>1 "Defiant" Compound Helicopter Fly For The First Time)
**Sean Gallaghe
(3/22/2019) Sikorsky-Boeing joint effort for Army's assault aircraft program makes first flight
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.— The tiltrotor Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator has attained ADS-33 Level 1 responsivenes in internal vendor testin
(21 May 2019) V-280 Passes Key Agility Test: Bell
*ADS-33: Mark B. Tischler, Christina M. Ivler, M. Hossein Mansur, Kenny K. Cheung, Tom Berger, and Marcos Berrio
(4 November 2008) Handling-Qualities Optimization and Trade-offs in Rotorcraft Flight Control Design
/ref> The tilt-rotor FLRAA demonstrator by Bell is flying unmanned (October 2019); it logged 100 hours of flight testing by April 2019.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(15 October 2019) 4 Flights, 3 Hours, 20 Knots: Defiant Inches Ahead
/ref> Both Bell and Sikorsky-Boeing received contract awards to compete in a risk reduction effort (CDRRE) for FLRAA in March 2020.Jen Judso
(16 Mar 2020) Army selects companies to continue in long-range assault aircraft competition
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(20 February 2020) We’ve Got Enough Data On Defiant: Sikorsky & Boeing
/ref> The risk reduction effort will be a 2-phase, 2-year competition. The competition will transition technologies (powertrain, drivetrain and control laws) from the previous demonstrators (JMR-TDs) of 2018–2019 to requirements, conceptual designs, and acquisition approach for the weapon system.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(26 February 2020) FVL: Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?
/ref> The Army wants flight testing of FLRAA prototypesJen Judson
(13 Oct 2022) US Army nearly ready to make future long-range assault aircraft award
beginning in 2025, with fielding to the first units in 2030.Jen Judso
(12 Jul 2021) US Army triggers competition for future long-range assault aircraft
/ref>

The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) is smaller than FLRAA. The Army's requests for proposals (RFPs) for FARA were due in December 2018;Andrew Eversde
(8 Jul 2022) Army’s FARA-destined future helicopter engine passes first test
ITEP engine

A long range precision munition for the Army's aircraft will begin its program of design and development. In the interim, the Army is evaluating the Spike 18 mile range non-line of sight missile on its Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.Jen Judso
(14 Jun 2021) US Army sets timeline to design new long-range weapon
/ref>

;Unmanned UH-60
An unmanned UH-60 Black Hawk flew pilotless in July 2022.Kris Osbor
(28 Jul 2022) UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Achieves Pilotless Flight
Sikorsky, DARPA's ALIAS program "... includes the ability to operate aircraft at all times of the day or night, with and without pilots, and in a variety of difficult conditions, such as contested, congested, and degraded visual environments".— Stuart Young, DARPA An FVL FLRAA (JMR-TD) flew unmanned in 2019.

Mobile, Expeditionary Network

In Fiscal Year 2019, the network CFT will leverage Network Integration Evaluation 18.2 for experiments with brigade level scalability. By 2022, 4 separate network Capability Sets were in-process, simultaneously ('21, '23, '25, and '27).

Integrated Tactical Network ( ITN) "is not a new or separate network but rather a concept"—PEO C3T.PEO C3
(2018) Integrated Tactical Network
"is not a new or separate network but rather a concept"PEO C3
Peo3ct.Army.mil (2021) Networking the Soldier
ARMY NETWORK CAPABILITY SET MODERNIZATION. 18 ppWalker, Gleason, and Ayer Peo3c
(7 Jul 2021) Global network super highway postures Army for multi-domain operations
Global Agile Integrated Transport (GAIT) is a network design: RHN regional hub network, DoD Teleport Sites, 150 Gait points of presence (POPs) Avoid overspecifying the requirements for Integrated Tactical NetworkSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(18 November 2019) New Army Network ‘A Revolution’ For Airborne: Commander
ITN full brigade Network equipment: PEO slide showing connectivity from BCT command post, down to Fire Team leaders cell phones; use each soldiers' IVAS goggles to locate each paratrooperJared Serb
(24 August 2018) Army experimenting with SOF-tested equipment while building long-term tactical network plan
/ref>U.S. Army PEO C3
(30 April 2019) Profile: Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T)
/ref> Information Systems Initial Capabilities Document. Instead, meet operational needs,Mark Pomerlea
(21 Jan 2020) What a deployment to the Middle East means for testing a new Army network
An operational deployment begun 1 Jan 2020, which won't be instrumented, will provide some Soldier feedback, but instrumented testing is deferred until after redeployment.
*Mark Pomerlea
(25 September 2019) How the Army will test its new battlefield network
/ref>Justin Eimers, PEO C3
(3 October 2018) Network Cross-Functional Team, acquisition partners experimenting to modernize tactical network
In 2018 MG Bassett became (''Program Executive Office Command Control Communications-Tactical'') PEO C3T)C5ISR such as interoperability with other networks,Joe Lacdan, Army News Servic
(25 October 2018) Interoperability a key focus in building the Army's future network
/ref>Mark Pomerlea
(1 April 2019) How the Army will sustain its tactical network of the future
ITN to take advantage of Tobyhanna depot. 5-3-1 model and release ITN capabilities incrementally.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(3 April 2019) Multi-Domain Networks: The Army, The Allies & AI
Incremental ITN Capability sets '21, '23, '25
*Up through 2028, every two years the Army will insert new capability sets for ITN (Capability sets '21, '23, '25, etc.).Claire Heininger and Amy Walke
(26 Apr 2022) 'The backbone of everything we do:' Army advances new communications network baseline
/ref>Devon L. Suits, Army News Servic
(21 June 2019) New tech, accessibility to improve Army tactical networks
/ref> and take feedback from Soldier-led experiment & evaluation.Amy Walker, PEO C3
(18 June 2019) Modernizing the Network
/ref>Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Comman
(22 July 2019) CCDC's road map to modernizing the Army: the network
4th in a seriesSydney J. Freedberg Jr
(29 August 2019) The Fraying Edge: Limits Of The Army's Global Network
/ref> However, the Army's commitment to a 'campaign of learning' showed more paths:Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(27 August 2019) Uncle Sam Wants YOU To Compete For Army Network Upgrade: CS 21
Multiple Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced (ESB-E) network hardware sets are being fielded simultaneously to individual companies in the 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion of 35th Signal Brigade/ 82nd Airborne Division in 2020, to allow maximum testing.Amy Walker, PM Tactical Network, PEO C3
(4 December 2019) Global network design unifies Army modernization efforts
GAIT: worldwide network mesh—CS21
**Firestorm was made possible by a mesh network—improvising an MEO, and then a GEO satellite link between JBLM to YPG. There are plans to have a Project Convergence 2021.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(25 Sep 2020) Longer-Range Missiles & More AI: Project Convergence 2021
PrSM, AFATDS to F-35Thomas Spoeh
(13 November 2020) Project Convergence: Its Success Could Draw Army Astray
Risks-- Opfor, Allies & Joint participation, EW jamming, PrSM launches, JADC2, Joint Forces command is a cautionary example.Thomas Brading, Army News Servic
(12 February 2021) Army scales up joint capabilities as Project Convergence grows
/ref> The Army fielded a data fabric at Project Convergence 2020; this will eventually be part of JADC2.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(17 Nov 2020) Project Rainmaker: Army Weaves ‘Data Fabric’ To Link Joint Networks
CCDC C5ISR built Project Rainmaker to weave together a data fabric which is foundational to JADC2FY19 Army Programs (2018) Distributed Common Ground System – Army (DCGS-A)
capability drop 1, 2018Andrew Eversde
(6 Oct 2021) Army Awards Palantir $823M Contract For Enterprise ‘Data Fabric’
DCGS-A Distributed Common Ground Systems-Army capability drop 2Claire Heninger and US Arm
(29 Oct 2021) Bridging the gap: Army weaves data fabric at Project Convergence 21
/ref>
**Five Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) awards were granted to five vendors via the Network CFT and PEO C3T's request for white papers. That request, for a roll-on/roll-off kit that integrates all functions of mission command on the Army Network, was posted at the '' National Spectrum Consortium'' and FedBizOpps, and yielded awards within eight months.Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affair
(17 October 2018) New players bring novel approaches to the Army's network modernization goals
/ref> Two more awards are forthcoming.
**The Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO)'s Emerging Technologies Office structured a competition to find superior AI/Machine Learning algorithms for electronic warfare, from a field of 150 contestants, over a three-month period.Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, Army Rapid Capabilities Offic
(8 November 2018) Cutting through the noise: Army, industry work together to speed up signal detection
/ref>
**The Multi-Domain Operations Task Force (MDO TF) is standing up an experimental Electronic Warfare Platoon to prototype an estimated 1000 EW soldiers needed for the 31 BCTs of the active Army.Sydney J. FREEDBERG JR
(19 November 2018) Can Army Afford The Electronic Warfare Force It Wants?
/ref>
*Capability Set '21 fields ITN to selected infantry brigades to prepare for IVAS Integrated vision goggles. Expeditionary signal brigades get enhanced satellite communications.
**1/82nd Airborne, 173rd Airborne, 3/25th ID, and 3/82nd Airborne infantry brigades will all have fielded the Integrated Tactical Network Capability Set '21 by year-end 2021.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(20 May 2021) Paratroopers Pioneer New Army Network, Tactics
HMS Manpack and Leader radios, ITN CS '21, can use variable height antenna drones, MUOS constellation: for tactical satellite communications �
Andrew Eversden (24 Sep 2021) Army Drops Nearly $350M For New Radios After Two Years of Testing
/ref> 2nd Cavalry Regiment is getting Capability Set '21 on Strykers, which will test the CS'23 network design on Strykers early.Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs (25 January 202
Army's integrated network rolls on with Stryker vehicles
/ref>
*Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '23 is prototyping JADC2 communications and the data fabric, to LEO (Low earth orbit) and to MEO (Medium earth orbit) satellites, as continued in Project Convergence 2021 in Yuma Proving Ground.Jaspreet Gi
(10 Jun 2022) Army CIO: FY23 is ‘year of inflection’ for digital transformation
CIO Raj Iyer: "Iyer said that the overall budget is 'almost flat' going from FY22 to FY23".Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr
(4 May 2021) Army Network Upgrade Seeks Fast Data For JADC2
/ref>Colin Demares
(1 Apr 2022) US Army picks L3Harris and Thales for radio modernization
replaces SINCGARS Capability Set '23 has passed its Critical design review (CDR).Colin Demares
(28 Apr 2022) US Army wraps review of 'future battlespace' network tools
/ref>
*Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '25 will implement JADC2, according to the acting head of the Network CFT.Andrew Eversde
(9 Jun 2021) Army says 2025 tactical network will make JADC2 a reality
/ref>Andrew Eversde
(29 Sep 2021) New Army Pilot Program To Test Armored Brigade Mobile Communications
N-CFT and PEO C3T are cooperating on CS'25, using 12 M1068 mobile command posts as test vehicles.Amy Walker, Project Manager Tactical Network, PEO C3T, public affair
(20 December 2022) Future operating environment, strategic need fuel Army's network design goals
CS'25, CS'27 goals for Army of 2030Brad William
(21 Sep 2021) DoD Spending On JADC2 Jumps, With Increased Focus On Interoperability: Report
a cautionary note on stovepiped systems —Billy Fabian Command post footprint reduced.
*Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Capability Set '27 design goals are being laid out.

*G-6 John Morrison is seeking to unify the battlefield networks of ITN, and IEN (Enterprise Network), as of September 2021.Andrew Eversde
(23 Sep 2021) Top Army General: Network Modernization 'Never Going To Stop'
/ref>CIO and G-
(8 Oct 2021) The Army Unified Network Plan: ENABLING MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS
/ref>
**An Army leader dashboard from PEO Enterprise Information Systems is underway.Ellen Summey, PEO EI
(1 July 2019) Army Leader Dashboard, creating insight-driven decisions
/ref>Lizette Chapma
(13 December 2019) Palantir Wins New Pentagon Deal With $111 Million From the Army
HR, supply chain, et al. The dashboard is renamed ''Vantage''.Billy Mitchel
(DEC 26, 2019) Inside Palantir's support of the Army's massive data problem
/ref> The dashboard has streamlined and connected data updates for deployments.Capt. Matthew Visse
(30 Jul 2022) Reinventing Modern Deployment: Soldiers leverage Army Vantage to make data-driven decisions
Cloud-service-provider agnostic abstraction layers are in use, which allows merging the staff work in G-3/5/7 for cyber/EW (electronic warfare), mission command, and space.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(29 July 2020) Army Future Ops Depend On Cloud – But Not On JEDI
/ref> The "seamless, real-time flow of data" across multiple domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace) is an objective for G-6, as well as the sensor-to-shooter work at Futures command.Kelsey Atherto
(7 August 2020) Pentagon Code Library Will Support Multiple Clouds
/ref>Andrew Eversde
(15 Oct 2020) US Army's tactical network team tests new unified data fabric in Yuma
/ref>
**Fort Irwin, Fort Hood, Joint Base San Antonio, and Joint Base Lewis McChord have 5G experiments on wireless connectivity between forward operating bases and tactical operations centers, as well as nonaircraft Augmented reality support of maintenance and training..S. Army Public Affair
U(3 June 2020) Two Army Installations selected for 5G testing and experimentation
/ref>
**The Multi-domain task forces ( MDTFs) will be used to expose any capability gaps in the Unified network plan.Andrew Eversde
(15 Dec 2021) Tactical cloud coming to Army's Multi-Domain Task Forces in 2022
/ref>

Air, Missile Defense

Air, Missile Defense (AMD):AARON MA

slate.com
*Paul McCleary (4 September 2019)
Border Wall Money Taken From Alaska Missile Interceptors, Shipyards & More
breakingdefense.com lists some of the affected projects
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(10 September 2019) Will Trump's Wall Mean a Delay in Defense Funding?
breakingdefense.com $3.6 billion shift
*MATTHEW CHO
(09/16/2019) Pentagon puts brakes on 3 border barrier projects because of cost
reverses $2.5 billion that would have been cut from missile defense allocation, Fort Knox middle school, etc.
*Eleanor Watson
*Li Zhou (26 Sep 2019
Congress just made moves to narrowly avert another government shutdown
Continuing resolution (CR) funds until mid-November
*JENNIFER SCHOLTE
(10/17/2019) Senate fails to override Trump on border wall emergency
/ref>Jason Cutsha
(SMDC/ARSTRAT) (22 March 2019) Army's senior air defender talks future of air, missile defense
/ref>Gary Sheftick, Army News Service (13 March 2019)
FY20 budget to boost air & missile defense
/ref>MG Cedric T. Winsbr> (09.10.2019) CCDC’S road map to modernizing the Army: air and missile defense
DVIDS release
(10 September 2019)
Same CCDC text but with 3 more images. Fifth in a series.Justin Kat
(26 Apr 2022) Lockheed sending first five A4 radars to Army next month
"Army's Q-53 counterfire target acquisition radar and the Air Force's new long-range radar" 2023 deliveryJen Judso
(27 Apr 2022) US Army plan to replace Patriot interceptors gets a jolt in FY23 budget request
Budget request for FY2023: Abbreviated Concept Development Document (ACDD) in FY24. Down select: 2QFY2023–4QFY2025. Concept Development Document by 1QFY24. Rapid capability development phase begins 1QFY25. In 2022 plans for FY2023 cruise missile defense were underway.Jen Judso
(18 Jul 2022) Pentagon plan for homeland cruise missile defense taking shape

= Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System

=

The United States Army ''Integrated Air and Missile Defense AMDBattle Command System'' (IBCS) is a plug and fight network intended to let any defensive sensor (such as a radar) feed its data to any available weapon system (colloquially, "connect any sensor to any shooter"). The system is designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase by intercepting with a hit-to-kill approach. IBCS a Revolutionary C2 System
4:40 video clipDaniel Cebul Daniel Cebul �
(9 October 2018) Army looks to a future of integrated fire
by integrating THAAD IBCS LRPF
IBCS has been developed since 2004, with the aim to replace Raytheon's Patriot missile (SAM) engagement control station (ECS), along with seven other forms of ABM defense command systems. Jen Judson (11 Oct 2018) In 2022, IBCS successfully completed initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E).Theresa Hitchen
(9 Nov 2022) Army’s IBCS wraps up initial operational testing
Northrop Grumman received a "five-year, $1.4 billion contract in late December" 2021.

The IBCS program is part of the Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) effort.Theresa Hitchen
(11 Aug 2021) JROC's Next Target: 'Integrated Air & Missile Defense'
IAMD will eventually be subject to a JROC capability review —John Hyten. JADC2 will thus have to be harmonized with IAMD.U.S. Army (12 December 2019) Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense System successfully intercepts test targets
/ref>USAASC (2020) Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)
/ref>
IBCS aims to create an integrated network of air defense sensors, such as AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel and AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR, AN/MPQ-53, AN/MPQ-65A and GhostEye (LTAMDS) in Patriot missile system, Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
Army IBCS: Joint, Up To A Point
Breaking Defense. 15 May 2020 GhostEye MR in NASAMS, AN/TPY-2 in Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), AN/SPY-1 and AN/SPY-6 in Aegis BMD,Tyler Rogoway
Here’s What The Army’s Long-Awaited Super Air Defense Network Can Actually Do
The Warzone. October 29, 2020 and AN/APG-81 in Lockeed Martin F-35 Lightning II, allowing them to interoperate with IBCS engagement control stations. IBCS engagement stations will be able to take fine control of army-fielded air-defense systems like Patriot and THAAD, directing radar positioning and suggesting recommended launchers; naval, aerial and Marine systems will only be able to share either radar tracks or raw radar data with the IBCS network. The Army requires all new missiles and air-defense systems to implement IBCS support. Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
New Missiles Must Work With IBCS Network: Bruce Jette (Exclusive)
Breaking Defense. March 09, 2020

Northrop Grumman was announced as the prime contractor in 2010; between 2009 and 2020, the Army had spent $2.7 billion on the program.Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS)
vendor summary

By May 2015, a first flight test integrated a networked S-280 engagement operations center with radar sensor and interceptor launchers. This test demonstrated a missile kill with the first interceptor. By Army doctrine, two interceptors were launched against that missile. By April 2016, IBCS tests demonstrated sensor fusion from disparate data streams, identification and tracking of targets, selection of appropriate kill vehicles, and interception of the targets, but the "IBCS software was 'neither mature nor stable'".Jen Judson (6 February 2017) On 1 May 2019 an Engagement Operations Center (EOC) for the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) was delivered to the Army, at Huntsville, Alabama.Sydney J Freedber
(1 May 2019) IBCS: Northrop Delivers New Army Missile Defense Command Post
11 EOCs as well as 18 IBCS integrated fire control network (IFCN) relays by year-end 2019

In July 2019, the TRADOC capability manager (TCM) for Strategic Missile Defense (SMD) has accepted the charter for DOTMLPF for the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT).Jason Cutshaw, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Comman
(7.24.2019) SMDC colonel accepts TCM SMD Assumption of Charter
from AMD to SMD

On 30 August 2019 at Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein atoll, THAAD Battery E-62 successfully intercepted a medium range ballistic missile (MRBM), using a radar which was well-separated from the interceptors; the next step tested Patriot missiles as interceptors while using THAAD radars as sensors; a THAAD radar has a longer detection range than a Patriot radar.Paul McClear
(30 August 2019) Army Tests Dispersed THAAD; Beginning Of Modular Missile Defense?
A step toward IBCS THAAD Battery E-62 engaged the MRBM without knowledge of just when the medium range ballistic missile had launched.MDA.mi

Flight Test THAAD (FTT)-23 image: https://www.mda.mil/global/images/system/thaad/FTT-23_THAAD_01.jpg at Kwajalein

IBCS' second limited user test was scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter of FY20.Sydney J Freedberg

In July 2020 a Limited user test (LUT) of IBCS was initiated at WSMR; the test ran until mid-September 2020.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
(6 July 2020) IBCS: Army Launches Massive Army Missile Defense Test
LUT is prerequisite for a Milestone C decision in the acquisition process. The LUT was originally scheduled for May but was delayed to handle the COVID-19 safety protocols. The first of several LUTs of IBCS, by an ADA battalion was successfully run in August 2020.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(13 August 2020) IBCS: Army Missile Defense Passes Most Complex Test Yet
/ref> IBCS successfully integrated data from two sensors (Sentinel and Patriot radars), and shot down two drones (cruise missile surrogates) with two Patriot missiles in the presence of jamming; In the week after, by 20 August 2020 two more disparate threats (cruise missile and ballistic missile) were launched and intercepted;Matthew Co

/ref>Jason Cutshaw USASMD
(27 August 2020) SMDC target team supports Army IBCS tests
Zombie launched to test IBCS the ADA battalion then ran hundreds of drills denoting hundreds of threats for the remainder of the IBCS tests (the increased effort occupied the entire unit);Lt. Col. David P. McCoy, Test Division Chief, Air and Missile Defense Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Comman
(11 September 2020) Ft. Bliss Air Defense Soldiers provide data testing new Integrated Air and Missile Defense system
/ref> the real-world data serve as a sanity check for Monte Carlo simulations of an array of physical scenarios amounting to hundreds of thousands of cases.Todd Sout
(20 Aug 2020) Army missile defenders defeat cruise and ballistic missiles nearly simultaneously
The test created terabytes of data to be queried.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr
(21 August 2020) IBCS Defeats 2 Missiles in Flight – But 100s In Simulation
*Andrew Eversde
(20 August 2020) US Army buys two new supercomputers to meet data analytics demand
/ref> IBCS created a "single uninterrupted composite track of each threat" and handed off each threat for separate disposition by the air and missile defense's integrated fire control network (IFCN).Defense Brief Editoria
(20 August 2020) US Army IBCS intercepts ballistic, cruise missile targets in second LUT test
"IBCS integrated the data to form a single uninterrupted composite track of each threat, impossible with any single sensor, which then informed engagement solutions with the best interceptors to engage both incoming threats" The same battalion running the LUT, for both IBCS, and LTAMDS radar, is scheduled to run the Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOTE) in 2021,Sydney J Freedber
(3 August 2020) Live-Fire Tests In August For Army Air & Missile Defense
/ref> and is to run well into 2022.

In September 2020 a Joint exercise against cruise missiles demonstrated AI-based kill chains which can be formulated in seconds; One of the kills was by a "M109-based" tracked howitzer Theresa Hitchens AFWERX (25 August 2020) Dr. Will Roper ABMS 'Ask Me Anything'
/ref> (a Paladin descendant).

The ranges of the IAMD defensive radars, when operated as a system, are thousands of miles. Cross-domain information from ground, air, and space sensors was passed to a fire control system at Project Convergence 2021 (PC21), via IBCS, during one of the use case scenarios.Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/land/2022/01/19/at-project-convergence-armys-new-battle-command-system-demonstrated-expanded-capability/ (19 Jan 2022) At Project Convergence, Army's new battle command system demonstrated expanded capability] At PC21 IBCS fused sensor data from an F-35, tracking the target, and passing that data to AFATDS (Army Field Artillery Tactical Data System). The F-35 then served as a spotter for artillery fire on ground target data.Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/01/armys-ibcs-passed-f-35-sensor-data-to-artillery-system-at-project-convergence-21/ (20 Jan 2022) Army's IBCS passed F-35 sensor data to artillery system at Project Convergence 21] More than 100 technologies were prototyped in experiments at PC21.

By August 2020, a second Limited User Test (LUT) at White Sands Missile Range was able to detect, track, and intercept near-simultaneous low-altitude targets as well as a tactical ballistic missile,Defense News (26 Aug 2020) ttps://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/08/26/latest-variant-of-patriot-missile-misfired-in-major-test-of-command-system/ Latest variant of Patriot missile misfired in major test of command systemPatriot-MSE misfired, but a Pac-3 successfully intercepted the Black Dagger Zombie ballistic missile. IBCS did send the correct commands. over several separate engagements.CJ Robles Jen Judson (20 Aug 2020) Army doctrine can now be updated to allow the launch of a single Patriot against a single target.
By 2021 the Army awarded a $1.4 billion contract to Northrop Grumman for IBCS.Andrew Eversden ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/12/army-awards-northrop-grumman-1-4-billion-contract-for-ibcs/ (23 Dec 2021) Army awards Northrop Grumman $1.4 billion contract for IBCS/ref>

Raytheon's new GhostEye radar (previously Lower Tier Air and Missiles Defense Sensor, LTAMDS) replaces the Patriot AN/SPY-65A radar. GhostEye will be able to feed raw sensor data to IBCS, and it will fit on a C-17 Globemaster. GhostEye is engineered to operate with much greater sensitivity, improved range and ability to track smaller, faster-moving targets. It uses three fixed 120-degree arrays to seamlessly find, discriminate and track fast-approaching threats using a 360-degree protection envelope. The arrays are overlapping to close “blind spots” and maintain a track if an attacking missile shifts course in flight. GhostEye can detect the precise shape, size, distance and speed of an approaching threat with high-fidelity sensor “pings”; its semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) emitters allow increased resolution, accuracy, and power efficiency. Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/10/ltamds-raytheon-to-build-linchpin-of-army-air-missile-defense/ (17 October 2019) LTAMDS: Raytheon To Build Linchpin Of Army Air & Missile Defense/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/03/raytheon-robotized-factory-speeds-up-army-ltamds-radar/ (19 March 2020) Raytheon: Robotized Factory Speeds Up Army LTAMDS RadarAvoids DoD5000 by using "Other Transaction Authority (OTA) and Section 804 Mid-Tier Acquisition processes" Raytheon Missiles & Defense ttps://www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/news/2020/10/02/soldiers-see-and-touch-full-scale-ltamds (2 Oct 2020) Soldiers See – And Touch – Raytheon Technologies' Full-Scale GhostEye in 4 Soldier TouchpointsAndrew Eversden ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/10/raytheon-announces-new-medium-range-radar-system/ (11 Oct 2021) Raytheon Announces New Medium-Range Radar System/ref>Defense News ttps://www.defensenews.com/native/raytheon-missiles-defense/2021/10/21/ghosteye-nothing-goes-unseen/ (21 Oct 2021) GhostEye - Nothing Goes UnseenGhostEye MR (medium range) introduced at AUSA, October 2021 The fielding of four LTAMDS radars to a battalion is expected in 2023.Jen Judson ttps://www.defensenews.com/land/2022/05/02/us-army-scrambles-to-keep-its-new-air-defense-radar-on-schedule/ (2 May 2022) US Army scrambles to keep its new air-defense radar on schedule1st of 4 LTAMDS radars will enter testing at WSMR in April 2022; 4 radars will be fielded to an LTAMDS battalion by December 2023 to meet the Congressional mandate.Andrew Eversden ttps://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/raytheon-aims-to-finish-ltamds-radar-prototypes-for-army-in-january/ (14 Oct 2022) Raytheon aims to finish LTAMDS radar prototypes for Army in January6th radar

Although on 21 August 2019 the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) cancelled the $5.8 billion contract for the Redesigned kill vehicle (RKV),Paul McCleary Theresa Hitchens ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/lawmakers-question-r-pump-mda-funding/ (17 December 2019) Lawmakers Question R&E Oversight; Pump MDA FundingRKV cancellation is prompting a National Defense Authorization Act mandate for a federally funded R&D center (Federally funded research and development centers - FFRDC) study, whether to move the oversight of MDA
*Theresa Hitchens ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/hill-to-griffin-no-moving-the-sco-shifts-it-to-depsecdef-norquist/ (17 December 2019) Hill To Griffin: No Moving The SCO; Shifts It to DepSecDef NorquistStrategic Capabilities Office (SCO)Paul McCleary ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/09/pentagon-issues-classified-rfp-for-new-missile-interceptor/ (6 September 2019) Pentagon Issues Classified RFP For New Missile InterceptorNo Refund of Monies expected. Rework is To Be Determined the Army's 100th Missile Defense Brigade will continue to use the Exo-Atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV). The current Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) programs continue per plan, with 64 ground-based interceptors (GBIs) in the missile fields for 2019 planned. Command and Control Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC), was developed by the Missile defense agency (as a development organization) and is integrated with GMD, as demonstrated by FTG-11 on 25 March 2019.AUSA ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgjMka8FMA (12 Mar 2020) Army SMD Hot Topic 2020 - VADM Jon Hill - Dir, Missile Defense Agency/ref> By March 2021, the decision to approve further development of the Next Generation Interceptor is on the agenda for the 35th Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. Hicks has extensive background in defense modernization; the 28th Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has recused himself from acquisition matters.Paul McCleary ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/new-missile-defense-program-on-deputy-secdefs-desk-awaiting-approval/ (12 Mar 2021) New Missile Defense Program On Deputy SecDef's Desk, Awaiting Approval20 GBIs are planned.Aaron Mehta (12 September 2021) ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/us-successfully-tests-new-homeland-missile-defense-capability/ "US Successfully Tests New Homeland Missile Defense CapabilityMDA's "2-/3-Stage selectable GBI" Breaking Defense

On 24 February 2022 THAAD radar and TFCC (THAAD Fire Control & Communication) demonstrated their interoperability with Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles; in other words IBCS can engage targets using both THAAD and Patriot interceptors, freed of a siloed solution (THAAD-only / Patriot-only, etc.).Jen Judson ttps://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/03/10/missile-defense-agency-fires-patriot-missile-from-thaad-system/ (10 Mar 2022) Missile Defense Agency fires Patriot missile from THAAD system For example, in a scenario where a THAAD system has to conserve its All-Up-Rounds, IBCS can calculate which targets are within the reach of its PAC-3 MSE interceptors, and instead fire the PAC-3 interceptors at those targets within range.

IBCS is projected to be at its initial operating capability (IOC) in Fiscal year 2022. In January 2018 James H. Dickinson and Richard Formica broached the integration of strategic fires and air/missile defense in the multi-domain task force.

= High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator

=

A contract for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD) laser system, a 100 kilowatt laser demonstrator for use on the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, was awarded 15 May 2019 to Dynetics-Lockheed.Jen Judson A 300 kilowatt laser demonstrator (HEL-IFPC) effort supersedes the HEL TVD (after the critical design review).Sydney J Freedberg ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/08/newest-army-laser-could-kill-cruise-missiles/ (5 August 2019) New Army Laser Could Kill Cruise MissilesDemonstrator lasers in test 2023, with fielding in 2024Daniel Wasserbly [https://www.janes.com/article/91898/ausa-2019-lockheed-martin-weighs-options-for-achieving-a-250-300-kw-air-defence-laser (14 October 2019) AUSA 2019: Lockheed Martin weighs options for achieving a 250-300 kW air-defence laser] Addresses IFPC requirements System test at White Sands Missile Range in 2023.

*Indirect fire protection capability (IFPC) Multi-mission launcher (MML) fielding 50 kW lasers on Strykers in 2021 and 2022 to two battalions per year.Joe Lacdan ttps://www.army.mil/article/212749/army_to_fuse_laser_technology_onto_air_defense_system (22 October 2018) Army to fuse laser technology onto air defense system/ref>Sydney J Freedberg ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/09/lockheed-aims-for-laser-on-fighter-by-2025/ (17 Sep 2020) Lockheed Aims For Laser On Fighter By 2025/ref>Sydney J Freedberg Jr.Anna Ahronheim ttps://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/US-Army-Iron-Dome-cannot-be-integrated-into-our-air-defense-systems-620171 (9 MARCH 2020) US Army: Iron Dome cannot be integrated into our air defense systems Iron Dome offers 12 launchers, two sensors, two battle management centers and 240 interceptors, but US Army's IAMD needs access to Iron Dome Source Code for interoperability w/ IFPC, IBCSSydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/03/new-missiles-must-work-with-ibcs-network-bruce-jette-exclusive/ (9 March 2020) New Missiles Must Work With IBCS Network: Bruce Jette (Exclusive)Each shooter must accept targeting data and firing commands from IBCS, at brassboard level at leastJen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/08/24/heres-who-the-us-army-has-tapped-to-build-an-enduring-capability-to-counter-drones-and-cruise-missiles/ (24 Aug 2021) Here's who the US Army has tapped to build an enduring capability to counter drones and cruise missiles] defensenews.com
*Maneuver short-range air defense (SHORAD, MSHORAD)Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/army-fields-first-anti-aircraft-strykers-in-only-3-years/ (23 Apr 2021) Army Fields First Anti-Aircraft Strykers In Just 3 Years] breakingdefense.comGary Sheftick, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/224074/army_rebuilding_short_range_air_defense (2 July 2019) Army rebuilding short-range air defenseManpad training for 19K MOS using synthetic training environment (STE) with laser cannon prototypes in 2020,Claire Heininger, U.S. Army ttps://www.army.mil/article/225276/army_awards_laser_weapon_system_contract (1 August 2019) Army awards laser weapon system contractRCCTO has awarded Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract 26 July 2019 for $203 million to two subcontractors, for prototype high energy lasers (HELs) for MSHORAD In July 2021 RCCTO conducted a combat shootoff on just how to control pointing these high-energy lasers.Nancy Jones-Bonbrest ttps://www.army.mil/article/249239/army_advances_first_laser_weapon_through_combat_shoot_off (10 Aug 2021) Army advances first laser weapon through Combat Shoot-OffSoldier-centered designJared Keller ttps://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/army-laser-weapon-stryker-combat-shoot-off/ (12 Aug 2021) The Army's first laser weapon is almost ready for a fight/ref> Raytheon is providing the high energy laser (Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense system —DE M-SHORAD) for the Strykers in 2022.Jen Judson ttps://news.yahoo.com/army-readies-deliver-first-set-181848878.html (13 Jan 2022) Army readies to deliver first set of Strykers with 50-kilowatt laser weapons/ref>
*RCCTO has awarded a contract to build a 300 kW high-energy laser (HEL) for the Army in FY2022, capable of defending against airborne threats, by acquiring, tracking, and maintaining the HEL's aimpoint on the threat until it goes down.Andrew Eversden ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/10/army-awards-laser-weapon-contract-to-boeing-general-atomics-team/ (26 Oct 2021) Army Awards Laser Weapon Contract To Boeing, General Atomics Team/ref>

Soldier lethality

#Soldier Lethality:MG John George Sixth in a seriesArgie Sarantinos-Perrin, CCDC Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/219476/ccdc_technology_to_increase_soldier_readiness_in_multi_domain_operations (29 March 2019) CCDC technology to increase Soldier readiness in multi-domain operations capabilities by 2023Robert Purtiman [https://www.army.mil/article/211454/soldier_lethality_cross_functional_team_bringing_next_generation_technologies_to_soldiers (21 September 2018) Lethality Cross-Functional Team bringing next generation technologies to Soldiers] ENVG-B, Next Generation Squad Weapons, and the Adaptive Soldier Architecture
#*Next Generation Squad Weapon Program: Expect 100,000 to be fielded to the Close Combat Force: Infantry, Armor, Cavalry, Special Forces, and Combat engineers. Tests at Fort Benning in 2019. —Chief of Staff MilleyDavid Vergun [https://www.army.mil/article/212177/next_generation_squad_weapon_to_be_very_capable_lethal_says_army_chief_of_staff (8 October 2018) Next-generation squad weapon to be very capable, lethal, says Army chief of staff]
#*Nine thousand systems, with two drones apiece are being purchased over a three-year period for the 9-man infantry squads heading to Afghanistan.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/06/army-buys-9000-mini-drones-for-squads-rethinks-ground-robots-for-2020/ (17 June 2019) Army Buys 9,000 Mini-Drones, Rethinks Ground Robots]
#* Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) —an augmented reality display— allows soldiers to use multiple sensors to fight.Kathryn Bailey, PEO C3T Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/230047/the_armys_tactical_network_empowers_advanced_goggle_platform (19 November 2019) The Army's tactical network empowers advanced goggle platformIVAS is under STP 2-- "In July 2020, STP 3 will fully integrate the ITN with IVAS" IVAS was put on hold in March 2022, with Congress budgeting $349 million in favor of drones instead.Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/03/congress-puts-349m-for-ivas-on-hold-but-army-sees-major-boost-to-counter-drones/ (11 Mar 2022) Congress puts $349M for IVAS ‘on hold,’ but Army sees major boost to counter drones] FLRAA, JLTVs, and Strykers got an increase, as well as the 6 modernization priorities. An initial IVAS buy was approved in September 2022 after a six month hold.
#*Enhanced night vision goggles (ENVG)-B, will be fielded to an Armor brigade combat team ( ABCT) going to South Korea in October 2019Bridgett Siter, Communications Director, Soldier Lethality CFT ttps://www.army.mil/article/226912 (10 September 2019) Soldier Lethality team delivers first big win for AFCEnhanced night vision goggle - binocular (ENVG-B) significantly aids marksmanship by the Close Combat Force
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/09/army-issues-next-gen-targeting-goggles/ (16 September 2019) Army Issues Next-Gen Targeting GogglesFreedberg's commentary on ENVG-B—Targeting goggles for infantrymenAFC ttps://www.army.mil/article/230214/soldier_feedback_driving_army_modernization (21 Nov 2019) Soldier feedback driving Army modernizationused 10 soldier touchpoints
#**A CCDC program which instrumented a battalion with sleep monitors, Redibands, and smartwatches to detect exertion, detected soldiers with elevated heart rates, indicating the beginnings of a streptococcus infection. This condition was detected by the medics, and would have impacted the battalion, detected before deploying to Afghanistan.Todd South [https://www.armytimes.com/news/2021/10/11/this-army-program-prevented-disease-outbreak-in-a-unit-deploying-to-afghanistan/ (11 Oct 2021) This Army program prevented disease outbreak in a unit deploying to Afghanistan] MASTR-E —Measuring and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness
#*Synthetic training environment (Reorganization plan of United States Army#Applications for Synthetic Training Environment (STE), STE)—a CFT devoted to an augmented reality system Joe Lacdan ttps://www.army.mil/article/222722/army_testing_synthetic_training_environment_platforms (3 June 2019) Army testing synthetic training environment platformsReconfigurable Virtual Collective Trainer-Air (RVCT-A), -Ground (RVCT-G), and 3-D terrain database (One World) to aid planning, using mapping techniques, even at squad levelDevon L. Suits, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/202574/synthetic_training_environment_to_enhance_soldier_lethality (22 March 2018) Synthetic training environment to enhance Soldier lethality*Combined Arms Center ttps://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/files/documents/cact/STE_White_Paper.pdf Synthetic Training Environment (STE) White Paper Combined Arms Center - Training (CAC-T)*Lt. Col. Damon "DJ" Durall, Synthetic Training Environment Cross-Functional Team ttps://www.army.mil/article/211619/synthetic_training_environment_and_the_digital_revolution_in_the_army (26 September 2018) Synthetic Training Environment and the digital revolution in the Army /ref>US Army will begin fielding by 2021. ttps://www.army.mil/e2/downloads/rv7/the_army_strategy_2018.pdf The Army Strategy2018Jacqueline M. Hames and Margaret C. Roth ttps://www.army.mil/article/216068/virtual_battlefield_represents_future_of_training (14 January 2019) Virtual battlefield represents future of trainingTraining as a service; more content at scale needed.Insinna, Valerie; Kahwaji, Riad; In October 2019 the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) prototype is being used by Special Operations for planning actual missions.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/10/ste-army-3d-mapping-software-so-good-special-ops-uses-it-for-missions/ (13 October 2019) Special Ops Using Army's Prototype 3D Maps On Missions: Gervais/ref>Jen Judson ttps://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/05/17/us-armys-jumping-to-next-level-in-virtual-training-world/ (17 May 2019) US Army's jumping to the next level in virtual trainingreconfigurable virtual collective trainers (RVCTs) Development for the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) is to be accelerated to meet MDO and JADC2 training demands.Yasmin Tadjdeh [https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2020/12/1/army-accelerating-next-step-of-synthetic-training-environment (1 Dec 2020) I/ITSEC NEWS: Army Accelerates Synthetic Training Environment Development]
*Jennifer McArdle & Caitlin Dohrman [https://warontherocks.com/2020/12/the-next-simnet-unlocking-the-future-of-military-readiness-through-synthetic-environments/ (3 Dec 2020) THE NEXT SIMNET? UNLOCKING THE FUTURE OF MILITARY READINESS THROUGH SYNTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS] Applying STE capability "requires organizational change and vision".
#On the battlefield of the future, where no headquarters is safe for long, the commander's task is:
#*"Avoid being detected and targeted".Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/army-2030-disperse-or-die-network-and-live/ (17 Oct 2022) Army 2030: Disperse or die, network and live
#*"Work through and survive attacks".
#*"Rapidly recover from losses".
#*Thus the commander has to be continuously aware of the current status (that is: alive or not) of the deputy commander (and the staff) so that the mission can be completed.

Enterprise campaign planning

In 2019 DoD planners are exercising Doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) in planning, per the National Defense Strategy (NDS),
in the shift from counterinsurgency (COIN) to competition with near-peer powers. The evaluations from planners' scenarios will be determining materiel and organization by late 2020.[https://www.army.mil/article/227677/more_joint_efforts_likely_as_the_army_prepares_for_multi_domain_operations Joe Lacdan (25 September 2019) More joint efforts likely as the Army prepares for multi-domain operations] A speedup in tempo, as driven by the CFTs is needed, according to Lt. Gen. Wesley"Clearly define roles, responsibilities and processes in order to identify the right efforts and get ahead of need." — ttps://www.army.mil/article/232835/conference_focuses_on_army_modernization_equipping_soldiers William B King (AMC) (18 February 2020) Conference focuses on Army modernization, equipping SoldiersEquipping Enterprise (AMC) + Modernization Enterprise (AFC)

Futures Command is formulating multiyear Enterprise campaign plans, in 2019.Phil Fountain, U.S. Army Futures Command ttps://www.army.mil/article/225458/army_futures_command_charts_a_campaign_plan (7 August 2019) Army Futures Command charts a campaign planNo uniforms The planning process includes Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC), AFC's cross-functional teams (CFTs), Futures and Concepts (FCC), Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), and Army Reserve's Houston-based 75th Innovation Command. At this stage, one goal is to formulate the plans in simple, coherent language which nests within the national security strategic documents. Gen. David Goldfein and Gen. Jay Raymond ttps://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/02/27/americas-future-battle-network-is-key-to-multidomain-defense/ (28 Feb 2020) America's future battle network is key to multidomain defenseJADC2: " We cannot yet share data in a seamless and simultaneous way between the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or the Space Force"Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/10/army-seeks-open-architecture-for-all-air-ground-systems-jette/ (14 Oct 2020) Army Seeks Open Architecture For All Air & Ground Systems: JetteIn the spirit of MOSA, JADC2, & Project convergence:
*Army Common Operating Environment (COE)
*C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards ( ttps://www.army.mil/article/219848/armys_investments_for_the_future_yield_common_open_architecture CMOSS
*Future Air-Borne Capability Environment (FACE)
*Integrated Sensor Architecture (ISA)
*Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA)
*Vehicle Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability (VICTORY)Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2022/11/can-the-armys-robotics-programs-build-ai-the-silicon-valley-way/ (14 Nov 2022) Can the Army's robotics programs build AI the Silicon Valley way?RCV navigation: "DIU has brokered a potentially groundbreaking contract between the Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle program and a small California firm that trains AI algorithms to navigate off-road".Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/11/qinetiq-delivers-armed-scout-robot-to-army-rcv-l/ (13 Nov 2020) QinetiQ Delivers Armed Scout Robot To Army: RCV-Luses UGV Interoperability ProfileKatherine Spivey and Wendy Wagner-Smith ttps://digital.gov/event/2021/05/19/positioning-yourself-as-a-plain-language-editor/ (19 May 2021)
Positioning Yourself as a Plain Language Editor/ref>

By October 2022 Field Manual 3-0 could state that The Army Operating Concept was that 'Multi-domain Operations are at the root of all Army operations', Headquarters, Department of the Army ttps://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36290-FM_3-0-000-WEB-1.pdf (1 October 2022) FM 3-0 OPERATIONS280 pagesAUSA 2022 [https://www.dvidshub.net/video/860148/ausa-contemporary-military-forum-army-2030-preparing-today-tomorrows-fight (10 Oct 2022) AUSA Contemporary Military Forum: Army 2030 - Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Fight] Office of the Chief of Public Affairs

Futures

AFC faces multiple futures, Futurology [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNVh_HMX2IY (22 May 2020) The World in 2050] CCDC is actually working on realizing some of these possibilities. ''See #Futures, below'' both as threat and opportunity. The Army's warfighting directive, viz., "to impose the nation's political will on its enemy" —Chief of Staff Milley, is to be ready for multiple near-term futures.AUSA, ILW selected papers, David Perkins, moderator ttps://www.ausa.org/news/ilw-launches-landpower-education-forum (24 October 2018) ILW Launches Landpower Education Forum4 views
Under Secretary McCarthy notes that Gen. Murray functions as the Army's Chief Investments Officer (more precisely, its "chief futures modernization investment officer"). Funding for the top six priorities could mean that existing programs might be curtailed.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2018/10/army-moves-25b-to-big-six-including-new-6-8mm-rifle/ (8 October 2018) Army Moves $25B To Big Six, From New Tanks To 6.8mm Rifle/ref>

In the top six priorities:

#LRPF Long range precision firesBreaking Defense ttps://breakingdefense.com/tag/army-strategic-fires/ A series on: Army Strategic Fires/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/05/beyond-inf-an-affordable-arsenal-of-long-range-missiles/ (28 May 2019) Beyond INF: An Affordable Arsenal Of Long-Range Missiles?INF Treaty likely to expire in August 2019
#* Hypersonic materiel development:Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2018/08/army-warhead-is-key-to-joint-hypersonics/ (22 August 2018) Army Warhead Is Key To Joint Hypersonics /ref> the Strategic long range cannon (SLRC), for a hypersonic projectile,Loren Thompson [https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2020/08/07/army-breakthroughs-in-long-range-fires-raise-novel-questions-about-targeting-organization--command/#565a921b6d7b (7 Aug 2020) Army breakthroughs in Long-range fires raise novel questions about targeting, organization, and command] about SLRC, a long-barrelled cannon which uses GPS-guided munitionsMatthew Cox [https://www.businessinsider.com/army-seeks-strategic-cannon-that-can-fire-a-round-over-1000-miles-2018-9 (14 September 2018) The Army is developing a new strategic cannon to devastate targets over 1,000 miles away] is meant to have a range up to 1,000 nautical miles.Sean Gallagher ttps://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/10/army-aims-to-test-extreme-long-range-strategic-cannon/ (10/15/2019) Bringing in the big gun: Army paves way for "strategic cannon"*Defense Updates ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3LCQ0yY86c (4 Feb 2019) U.S ARMY'S SUPER GUN - STRATEGIC LONG RANGE CANNON (SLRC)Smaller GPS-enabled shells. An early ballistic test took place at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, as announced at AUSA in October 2019.
#**ERCA development at Picatinny Arsenal: evaluate several manufacturing technologies, tied to the XM1113 munition.
#* Targeting with thousand-mile missiles,Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/03/army-sets-2023-hypersonic-flight-test-strategic-cannon-advances/ (19 March 2019) Army Sets 2023 Hypersonic Flight Test; Strategic Cannon Advances/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2018/09/aiming-the-armys-thousand-mile-missiles/ (11 September 2018) Aiming The Army's Thousand-Mile MissilesMulti-domain Ft Sill "streamlining the sensor-shooter link at every echelon"—BGMonica K. Guthrie, LRPF communications director ttps://www.army.mil/article/228330/army_futures_command_gains_new_general (9 October 2019) Army Futures Command gains new general/ref> John Rafferty, in Integrated fire Daniel Cebul ttps://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2018/10/08/army-looks-to-a-future-of-integrated-fire/ (8 Oct 2018) Army looks to a future of integrated fire/ref>Sean Kimmons, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/228867/titan_system_being_developed_to_tie_deep_sensing_to_long_range_fires (24 October 2019) TITAN system being developed to tie 'deep sensing' to long-range firesFor use in I2CEWS battalion of a Multi-domain task forceSandra Erwin ttps://spacenews.com/u-s-army-approves-plans-for-a-future-tactical-space-layer/ (19 April 2021) U.S. Army approves plans for a future 'tactical space layer'"tactical space layer will be integrated with an existing ground station called Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN)"
# NGCV Next generation combat vehicleTodd South [https://www.armytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/07/14/tanks-are-here-to-stay-what-the-armys-future-armored-fleet-will-look-like/ (14 Jul 2021) Tanks are here to stay: What the Army's future armored fleet will look like]SARA [https://www.army.mil/article/247978/army_program_introduces_new_software_for_robot_autonomy ARL (29 Jun 2021) Army program introduces new software for robot autonomy] AIMM ERP (Artificial Intelligence for Maneuver and Mobility Essential Research Program)
#*Much smaller and lighter ground combat vehicles, optionally unmanned (Dedicated short-range communications for robotic vehicles
#**If robotic combat vehicles (RCVs) do not need to be manned, neither would they need to be armored (''see Uran-9''); use of sensors and batteries could replace the armor.Sean Kimmons, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/224241/soldiers_to_operate_armed_robotic_vehicles_from_upgraded_bradleys (11 July 2019) Soldiers to operate armed robotic vehicles from upgraded Bradleys(Mission Enabler Technologies-Demonstrators, or MET-Ds)Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/10/army-robots-go-rolling-along-ahead-of-schedule/ (14 October 2019) Army Robots Go Rolling Along – Ahead Of ScheduleRobotic combat vehicles in "Four Years, Three Phases, Three Weight Classes" Soldiers have learned to remotely operate the weapons on such RCVs in several days; the CCDC RCV Center and CFT are placing RCV prototypes and the Soldier's vehicle prototypes in company-level scenarios in Europe, in 2020 and forward. Modified Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M113s at Fort Carson went through unit-level operations to gain experience with RCVs in July and August 2020.Mandy Mayfield ttps://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2020/10/2/army-puts-robotic-combat-vehicles-through-paces (2 Oct 2020) Army Puts Robotic Combat Vehicles Through Paces/ref> Future breaching operations will be affected in detail by the robotic breaching concept, according to the panel at the AUSA October 2020 meeting.USACE ttps://www.army.mil/article/239723/future_combined_arms_breaching_technology_to_be_highlighted_at_ausa_2020 (6 Oct 2020) Future Combined Arms Breaching Technology to be highlighted at AUSA 2020/ref>Office of the Chief of Public Affairs [https://www.dvidshub.net/video/769416/ausa-2020-warriors-corner-future-combined-arms-breaching-enabled-technology (10.13.2020) AUSA 2020 Warriors Corner - Future Combined Arms Breaching Enabled by Technology]
#**In October 2020 the Army's Chief of Staff reminded the force that "The time is now" to modernize for the future, including how the Army develops the systems themselves;Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/07/two-men-a-bot-can-ai-help-command-a-tank/ (27 July 2020) Two Men & A Bot: Can AI Help Command A Tank?2-man crews in MET-Ds have proved they can maneuver without a commander. if a soldier can now use IVAS to shoot around corners and hit the target, if soldiers and their units can use STE (synthetic training environment) to depict the mission's terrain and train for the mission before the conflict occurs, if deploying robotic reconnaissance vehicles at the time of the mission can smoke out defenses before committing manned combat vehicles against those defenses, then even light vehicles can transport soldiers in conflict, and precision fires can neutralize threats against those soldiers in a conflict. STE can depict these scenarios.David Craig ttps://www.realcleardefense.com/video/2020/10/26/the_time_is_now_to_transform_americas_army_580991.html (26 Oct 2020) The Time Is Now to Transform America's ArmyChief of Staff Gen. James C. McConvilleSydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/12/omfv-army-wants-your-weird-ideas-for-bradley-replacement/ (18 Dec 2020) OMFV: Army Wants Your Weird Ideas For Bradley ReplacementMultiple forms of the OMFV are a possibility. Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) is a requirement so that systems can be upgraded in a modular fashion. OMFV to be compatible with STE capabilities.EditorDavid ttps://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/08/01/0239203/will-the-us-army-not-meta-build-an-open-metaverse (1 Aug 2022) Will the US Army, Not Meta, Build an 'Open' Metaverse? STE to connect systems for combined arms and joint training
#*Robotic warfare, as a concept or capability at the Joint Corps echelon, was demonstrated at the operational level using Joint Warfighting assessment (JWA) 18.1 in April 2018.
#**JWA 19 (April–May 2019): I Corps, at Joint base Lewis-McChord, is getting modernization training on the robotic complex breaching concept (RCBC),Daniel Lafontaine, CCDC ttps://www.army.mil/article/222153/army_futures_leveraging_mission_command_for_effective_soldier_robot_teams (21 May 2019) Army Futures leveraging mission command for effective Soldier, robot teams/ref> and the command post computing environment (CPCE)Devon L. Suits ttps://www.army.mil/article/209026/cerdec_unveils_more_than_a_dozen_new_technologies_for_mission_command (26 July 2018) CERDEC unveils more than a dozen new technologies for mission commandCPCE COE MCE
* ttps://peoc3t.army.mil/mc/cpce.php Command post computing environment (CPCE)PEO 3ct from Joint modernization command ( JMC) training staff.Maj. Rich Marsh, Joint Modernization Command ttps://www.army.mil/article/217449/jmc_sets_the_stage_for_largest_annual_modernization_exercise (14 February 2019) JMC sets the stage for largest annual modernization exercise/ref>
#**Create decisive lethality:Jen Judson ttps://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2018/10/09/the-armys-future-tank-may-not-be-a-tank/ (9 October 2018) The Army's future tank may not be a tankBuy back size, weight, and powerEconomist.com ttps://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/09/12/tanks-have-rarely-been-more-vulnerable (12 Sep 2020) Tanks have rarely been more vulnerableTaiwan would have an advantage defending. Robotic experimentsSydney J. Freedberg, Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/09/titan-robot-test-fires-javelin-anti-tank-missile/ (11 September 2019) Titan Robot Test-Fires Javelin Anti-Tank MissileRemote-controlled test-fires of FGM-148 Javelin antitank missiles from unmanned ground vehicleDavid Miller ttps://www.army.mil/article/238342/the_future_of_unmanned_ground_systems_in_the_operational_environment (20 August 2020) The Future of Unmanned Ground Systems in the Operational Environmentnames 7 countries using UGSs
#***Jen Judson reports that Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley is proposing that the brigades begin to electrify their vehicles using hybrid, NANCY JONES-BONBREST ttps://rapidcapabilitiesoffice.army.mil/news/hybrid-electric-prototype/ (16 July 2020) ARMY AWARDS CONTRACT FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC PROTOTYPE/ref> or all-electric propulsion.Jen Judson ttps://www.defensenews.com/2020/03/16/us-army-ventures-down-path-to-electrify-the-brigade/ (17 Mar 2020) US Army ventures down path to electrify the brigade/ref>Major Matthew Wood ttps://www.army.gov.au/our-future/blog/emerging-threats-and-opportunities/the-future-of-hybrid-and-electric-technology-for (Nov 2019) The Future of Hybrid and Electric Technology for Army Australian Defence Force
#***Smaller brigades and stronger division-level maneuver, with robotic aerial reconnaissance vehicles, robotic combat vehicles (RCVs), and long-range precision fires (LRPFs) are under consideration.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/11/army-wants-smaller-brigades-stronger-divisions-lots-of-robots (6 Nov 2020) Army Wants Smaller Brigades, Stronger Divisions & Lots O’ RobotsFirst contact with the enemy to be unmanned. Lists a portfolio of Common robotic systems (CRSs)Spc. Garrison Waites ttps://www.army.mil/article/257470/soldiers_get_hands_on_experience_with_new_tech_during_combined_resolve (12 Jun 2022) Soldiers get hands-on experience with new tech during Combined ResolveUsing RCVs with Javelins and CROWS
#***Modified M2 Bradleys (MET-Ds) and other RCVs operating at Fort Carson, and in Europe have used robotic software to operate the vehicles, for both logistics and also for combat maneuver.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/08/robots-vs-puddles-surprises-from-army-rcv-test/ (7 August 2020) Robots & Puddles: Surprises From Army RCV Test /ref> As of August 2020, the RCVs are able to perform limited waypoint navigation; multiple vehicles can be controlled by one human operator.
#FVLSydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/03/fvl-qa-7-leaders-on-the-future-of-army-aviation/ (26 Mar 2020) FVL Q&A: 7 Leaders On The Future Of Army Aviation Nicknamed "6-pack+1";
#Commander, Aviation Center of Excellence (CoE)
#Commander, Aviation Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC)
#Director, Aviation directorate, Deputy Chief of Staff G3/5/7
#Commander, Aviation Special Operations Command (USASOAC)
#Deputy PEO, Aviation
#SES, Aviation and Missile Command
#Director, FVL CFT "Our new approach is really to prototype as much as we can to help us identify requirements, so our reach doesn't exceed our grasp. ... A good example is Future Vertical Lift: The prototyping has been exceptional." —Secretary of the Army Mark EsperSydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/01/bell-v-280-flies-322-mph-army-secretary-praises-program/ (24 January 2019) Bell V-280 Flies 322 MPH: Army Secretary Praises Program/ref>
#*The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) scout helicopter prototypes are to be designed to fly along urban streets, to survive air defenses. Five design vendors were selected, with downselect to two for prototyping by February 2020.
#*These aircraft are envisioned as platforms for utilizing sensor networks to control and enable weapons delivery, as demonstrated in a 2019 experiment.Dan Gouré [https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2020/02/29/finally_there_is_a_solution_to_the_problem_of_flying_in_degraded_visual_environments_115079.html (29 Feb 2020) Finally, There Is a Solution to the Problem of Flying in Degraded Visual Environments]: Terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) In preparation for FVL platforms, the FVL CFT demonstrated a 2020 Spike (ATGM)#Spike NLOS, Spike non-line of sight missile launch from an Apache gunship at Yuma Proving Ground, for extended range capability;David Craig [https://www.realcleardefense.com/video/2020/04/06/future_vertical_lift_conducts_a_demonstration_of_the_spike_nlos_missile_system.html (6 April 2020) Future Vertical Lift Conducts a Demonstration of the Spike NLOS Missile System] a forward air launch of an unmanned sensor aircraft (UAS) from a helicopter was demonstrated at YPG as well.Kerensa Crum [https://www.army.mil/article/234100/ccdc_aviation_missile_center_highlights_forward_launched_uas_technology CCDC Aviation & Missile Center Public Affairs (30 March 2020) CCDC Aviation, Missile Center highlights forward-launched UAS technology]
#Mobile & Expeditionary Network Scott McKean [https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2021/07/19/b7aad354/20210714-afc-pam-71-20-9-concept-for-c2-pursuing-decision-dominance-approved.pdf (14 Jul 2021) AFC Pamphlet 71-20-9 Army Futures Command Concept for Command and Control - Pursuing decision dominance] AFCC-C2 is the future communications network. 14 Jul 2021 see: [https://www.army.mil/futuresandconceptscenter#org-resources FUTURES AND CONCEPTS CENTER resources] / Reorganization plan of United States Army#Multi-domain operations (MDO), MDO Multi-domain operationsTodd South, Military Times [https://www.businessinsider.com/army-futures-command-general-4-things-needed-to-win-future-wars-2019-5#4-the-armys-culture-of-risk-aversion-needs-to-change-4 (8 May 2019) 4 things the general in charge of the Army's newest command says are needed to win the wars of the future]

#*In the battlefield of the future, where nowhere is safe for long, "you will miss opportunities to get to positions of advantage if you don't synthesize the data very quickly"—LTG Wesley (AI for multi-domain command and control: MDC2)Anthony Small, U.S. Army Futures Command ttps://www.army.mil/article/218531/futures_command_highlights_changes_new_structure_at_sxsw (13 March 2019) Futures Command highlights changes, new structure at SXSW/ref> "Finding and engaging high-value relocatable ground systems within rapid timelines" is the Air Force's operational objective in this JADC2 exercise (December 2019) —Eliahu Norwood, Greg Grant, and Tyler Lewis. Eliahu Norwood, Greg Grant, and Tyler Lewis, MITRE [https://www.mitre.org/sites/default/files/publications/Joint-All-Domain-Command-Control.pdf (December 2019) A new battle command architecture for multi-domain operations: countering peer adversary power projection] Tie-in to MDC2, MDO
#**Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance#ISR (Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) needs to match the range of the upcoming LRPF (Long range precision fires) and thousand-nautical-mile missile standoff capability of the Army.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/03/army-wont-build-recon-satellites-lt-gen-berrier/ (11 March 2020) Army Won't Build Recon Satellites: Lt. Gen. Berrier#MDO-driven modernization priorities for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance)
#*Terrestrial Layer System (TLS)
#*Aerial ISR
#**Gray, Blue, and Red (targeted) force tracking
#*TITAN-level communications Soldiers on the ground are now able to receive satellite ISR.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/09/pushing-data-from-space-to-mud-project-convergence/ (23 September 2020) Pushing Data ‘From Space To Mud’: Project Convergence/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/army-artillerys-ai-gets-live-fire-exercises-in-europe-pacific/ (28 Apr 2021) Army Artillery's AI Gets Live-Fire Exercises In Europe, Pacific APNT: Timing for TITAN terminal prototype in 2022
#*Cybersecurity RAND simulations show Blue losses
#*Cyber warfareShane Harris ttps://www.realcleardefense.com/2019/03/27/palantir_wins_competition_to_build_army_intelligence_system_307271.html (27 March 2019) Palantir Wins Competition to Build Army Intelligence System/ref> / urban warfareJoe Lacdan ttps://www.dvidshub.net/news/305917/warfare-megacities-new-frontier-military-operations (05.24.2018) Warfare in megacities: a new frontier in military operations"No amount of planning, study or preparation can prepare a military unit for the unique rhythm of a major city or what Townsend labeled the 'flow'."Timothy L. Rider [https://www.army.mil/article/230259/multinational_partners_find_new_york_ideal_to_test_urban_warfare_technologies (22 November 2019) Multinational partners find New York ideal to test urban warfare technologies] Fort Hamilton hosted Contested Urban Environment Strategic Challenge 2019 (CUE 19) on 24 July 2019John Spencer [https://mwi.usma.edu/effective-weapon-modern-battlefield-concrete/ (14 November 2016) The Most Effective Weapon on the Modern Battlefield is Concrete]Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/army-needs-armor-for-city-fights-gen-mcconville/ (13 Apr 2021) Army Needs Armor For City Fights: Gen. McConville/ref> / Underground warfare / Multi-domain combined maneuverDavid Vergun, Army News Service [https://www.army.mil/article/210929/multi_domain_operations_to_exploit_enemy_vulnerabilities_say_army_leaders (10 September 2018) Multi-domain operations to exploit enemy vulnerabilities, say Army leaders] #ALEs, Robotic swarms are a tactic under consideration.Dan Lafontaine, CCDC C5ISR Center Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/226268/army_looks_to_enhance_mission_command_with_robotic_swarms (4 September 2019) Army looks to enhance mission command with robotic swarms]Carol Scheina, CCDC C5ISR Center Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/238848/abrams_demonstration_proves_concept_for_enterprise_level_system_health_monitoring (September 8, 2020) Abrams demonstration proves concept for enterprise-level system health monitoring]
#*Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (A-PNT)Office of the Chief of Public Affairs [https://www.dvidshub.net/video/715345/2019-ausa-warriors-corner-tacticalspace-delivering-future-force-space-capabilities (10.16.2019) 2019 AUSA Warriors Corner - TacticalSpace: Delivering Future Force Space Capabilities]
*#Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing
*#Tactical Space: Space Development Agency#Projects and research, SDA is structuring a multi-layer satellite system:
*##Backbone layer for data transport downward to the long-range precision fires
*##Custody layer for missiles' trajectories, whether friendly or threat
*##Tracking layer for hypersonic glide vehicles which represent threats to the multi-layer satellite system
*##Space situational awareness for cis-lunar trajectories,
*#NavWarARL Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/212459/researchers_develop_technique_to_locate_robots_soldiers_in_gps_challenged_environments (16 October 2018) Researchers develop technique to locate robots, Soldiers in GPS-challenged environments] Qinetiq Zephyr, Zephyr, a solar-powered drone successfully stayed aloft at Yuma Proving Ground for nearly 26 days, at times descending to 55,000 feet to avoid adverse weather conditions, while remaining well above the altitudes flown by commercial aircraft, and landing per plan in the summer of 2018, to meet other testing commitments.Mark Schauer (ATEC) [https://www.army.mil/article/217347/unmanned_aircraft_stays_aloft_for_nearly_26_days_above_us_army_yuma_proving_ground (12 February 2019) Unmanned aircraft stays aloft for nearly 26 days above U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground] Zephyr A 2022 test of Zephyr S began on 15 June 2022; as of 22 July 2022 the drone was still flying at 70,000 feet in the stratosphere, and has broken its previous non-stop record.Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/after-setting-ultra-endurance-record-army-zephyr-drone-keeps-flying-whether-it-wants-to-or-not/ (2022) After setting ultra-endurance record, Army Zephyr drone keeps flying, whether it wants to or not] However on 19 August, after 64 days, Zephyr S lost 20,000 feet of altitude, before suddenly plummeting at high speed in a presumed crash at YPG. Zephyr yielded over 1500 hours of stratospheric data during the mission. This surpasses Airbus' goal of 60 days of unmanned service, which included international flight from Arizona to Belize, and back.Nicholas Slayton ttps://taskandpurpose.com/news/after-64-days-the-armys-drone-that-wouldnt-die-has-died/_(21_Aug_2022)_After_64_days,_the_Army’s_drone_that_wouldn’t_die_has_died_[Updated__Flight_endurance_record.html" ;"title="pdated.html" ;"title="ttps://taskandpurpose.com/news/after-64-days-the-armys-drone-that-wouldnt-die-has-died/ (21 Aug 2022) After 64 days, the Army’s drone that wouldn’t die has died [Updated">ttps://taskandpurpose.com/news/after-64-days-the-armys-drone-that-wouldnt-die-has-died/ (21 Aug 2022) After 64 days, the Army’s drone that wouldn’t die has died [Updated Flight endurance record">Zephyr would have broken the world record for continuous flight, had it lasted just a few more hours.Riley Pickett [https://simpleflying.com/airbus-zephyr-flight-ends/ (21 Aug 2022) The Airbus Zephyr Comes Crashing Down In Arizona] Lee Ferran [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/armys-ultra-endurance-zephyr-drone-comes-down-after-unexpected-termination-over-arizona-desert/ (23 Aug 2022) Army’s ultra-endurance Zephyr drone comes down after ‘unexpected termination’ over Arizona desert] "First flight over water", the first "direct downlink while outside of U.S. airspace" and the "longest duration (7 days) utilizing satellite communications — including from a military base in the UK" In April 2021 a Vanilla UAS demonstrated 45 hour 23 minute unrefueled flight from Point Mugu to the Pacific Fleet’s (PACFLT) UxS IBP 2021 exercise.UASWeekly.com ttps://uasweekly.com/2021/06/29/uxs-ibp-multi-day-maritime-demonstration-for-vanilla-uas/ (29 Apr 2021) UxS IBP: Multi-Day Maritime Demonstration for Vanilla UAS/ref>Ryan White ttps://navalpost.com/uss-john-finn-sm-6-missile-uxs-ibp/ (27 Apr 2021) SM-6 successfully hits a target with the help of Unmanned SystemsUSS John Finn (DDG 113) during UxS IBP 21
#**An A-PNT event is scheduled at WSMR for August 2019[http://www.rfpdb.com/view/document/name/Assured-Positioning%2C-Navigation-and-Timing-Cross-Functional-Team-Assessment-Exercise_PNT%7CASSESSMENT%7CEXERCISE Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Cross Functional Team Assessment Exercise] 1-16 Aug 2019, WSMRJonathan Koester, Joint Modernization Command Public Affairs http://fortblissbugle.com/2019/09/04/army-jmc-assess-new-navigation-positioning-systems/ (4 September 2019) Army, JMC assess new navigation, positioning systems. Wearable A-PNTMark Pomerleau ttps://www.c4isrnet.com/c2-comms/2019/03/29/if-gps-goes-out-the-army-now-has-a-requirement-for-that/ (28 March 2019) If GPS goes out, the Army now has a requirement for that/ref>Caitlin O'Neill, APNT CFT Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/226186/apnt_cft_hosts_first_annual_assessment_exercise (23 August 2019) APNT CFT Hosts First Annual Assessment Exercise/ref>
#**Prototype jam-resistant GPS kits are being fielded to 2nd Cavalry Regiment in US European Command (EUCOM) before year-end 2019.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/06/army-fields-anti-jam-gps-to-germany-this-fall/ (6 June 2019) Army Fields Anti-Jam GPS In Germany This Fall/ref> More than 300 Strykers of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment are being fitted with the Mounted Assured Precision Navigation & Timing System (MAPS), with thousands more planned for EUCOM.Thomas Brading, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/228236/army_fields_anti_jam_gps_plans_for_thousands_more_by_2028 (7 October 2019) Army fields anti-jam GPS, plans for thousands more by 2028/ref>
#**A Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) is under development.Dan Lafontaine, CCDC C5ISR Center Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/223236/futures_command_looks_to_enable_plug_and_play_pnt_across_army_platforms (17 June 2019) Futures Command looks to enable plug-and-play PNT across Army platforms/ref>Theresa Hitchens and Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/08/army-seeks-small-satellites-to-support-ground-troops/ (7 August 2019) Army Seeks Small Satellites To Support Ground Troops3 programs: Gunsmoke, Lonestar and Polaris.
*Theresa Hitchens ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/10/smdc-pushes-for-new-pnt-tracking-sat-payloads/ (12 October 2020) SMDC Pushes For New PNT, Tracking Sat PayloadsIn addition to the 3 LEO satellite programs mentioned above, SMDC's technical center is working on project TITAN (Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node), a "common, mobile ground station" for the Army's tactical needs.
#***Low Earth orbit satellites for Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing—"When you look at the sheer number of satellites that go up and the reduced cost to do it, it gives us an array of opportunities on how to solve the problems" in A-PNTGary Sheftick, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/233587/army_looks_to_leverage_low_earth_orbit_satellites (10 March 2020) Army looks to leverage 'low Earth orbit' satellites LEO satellites orbit 100-1200 miles above Earth
#**CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL) researchers have proposed and demonstrated a way for small ground-based robots with mounted antennas to configure phased arrays, a technique which usually takes a static laboratory to develop. Instead the researchers used robots to covertly create and focus a highly directional parasitic array (''see Yagi antenna'').CCDC Army Research Laboratory [https://www.army.mil/article/226447/army_scientists_discover_a_new_way_for_robots_to_exchange_directed_messages (29 August 2019) Army scientists discover a new way for robots to exchange directed messages]
#**CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL): ARL's Army Research Office is funding researchers at University of Texas at Austin, and University of Lille who have built a new 5G component using hexagonal boron nitride which can switch at performant speeds, while remaining 50 times more energy-efficient than current materials—the "thinnest known insulator with a thickness of 0.33 nanometers".Kim, M., Pallecchi, E., Ge, R. et al. ttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-020-0416-x (2020) Analogue switches made from boron nitride monolayers for application in 5G and terahertz communication systems. ''Nature Electron'' https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-020-0416-x
*U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/235923/new_5g_switch_provides_50_times_more_energy_efficiency_than_currently_exists (May 26, 2020) New 5G switch provides 50 times more energy efficiency than currently exists]
#**CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL): ARL's Army Research Office (ARO) is seeking diamond colloids, microscopic spheres which can assemble bottom-up into promising structures for laser action.Todd South ttps://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/11/20/new-army-research-breakthrough-could-lead-to-more-powerful-lasers/ (20 Nov 2020) New Army research breakthrough could lead to more powerful lasers
*David J. Pine is investigator for ARO, using colloids of microscopic spheres which can assemble bottom-up into promising structures.
*Mingxin He, Johnathon P. Gales, Étienne Ducrot, Zhe Gong, Gi-Ra Yi, Stefano Sacanna, & David J. Pine ttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2718-6 (23 Sep 2020) Colloidal diamond/ref>
#**Newly developed materials with nanoscale trusses could serve as armor or coatings.
#**A demonstration of proof of concept allows Soldiers to communicate their position using a wearable tracking unit. The technology allows soldiers (or robots) to prosecute a fight even indoors or underground, even if GPS were lost during a NavWar.
#Air, Missile Defense is being reframed, as more integrated.Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2019/03/27/army-debuts-new-missile-defense-strategy-to-address-emerging-threats/ (27 March 2019) Army debuts missile defense framework in move to counter drones, hypersonic threats]Paul McLeary [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/01/missile-defense-review-a-multi-billion-iou-to-white-house/ (17 January 2019) Missile Defense Review a Multi-Billion IOU to White House]Miles Brown ttps://www.army.mil/article/224156/aviation_missile_commander_addresses_workforce (5 July 2019) Aviation, missile commander addresses workforceCG Todd Royar's statement of his expectations
*Lisa Simanuci, Aviation and Missile Command Public Affairs ttps://www.theredstonerocket.com/military_scene/article_682c55d0-112a-11ea-a47b-535bba3fed28.html (27 Nov 2019) Field grade officers hear general's perspective—Maj. Gen. Todd Royar's talk at the Command and General Staff School
##*Integrated Air and Missile Battle Command System ( IBCS)PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE MISSILES AND SPACE ttps://www.msl.army.mil/Documents/Briefings/IAMD/AIAMD%20Web%20Brief.pdf (2018) Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Program Overview award, including next software build. Army News Service. I Corps has I2CEWS Battalion or Intelligence, Information, Cyber, Electronic Warfare and Space Battalion —Joe Lacdan, ttp://fortblissbugle.com/2019/06june/062019/pdf/062019part1b.pdf (6/19/2019) Army leaders say service must shore up its space defense
*Jason Cutshaw [https://www.army.mil/article/217620/smdc_supports_the_development_of_i2cews_battalions_for_multi_domain_operations (SMDC/ARSTRAT) (21 February 2019) SMDC supports the development of I2CEWS battalions for multi-domain operations]
*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/01/hack-jam-sense-shoot-army-creates-1st-multi-domain-unit/ (24 Jan 2019) Hack, Jam, Sense & Shoot: Army Creates 1st Multi-Domain Unit] an MDO BN for Targeting, I Corps $238 million also funds initial prototypes of the command and control system for fielding in FY22.
##** Hypersonic glide vehicle launch preparations, beginning in 2020, and continuing with launches every six months.
##**At Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake an FVL CFT-sponsored demonstration of interconnected sensors handed-off the control of a glide munition which had been launched from a Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS). During the flight of that munition, another group of sensors picked up a higher-priority target; another operator at the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) redirected the glide munition to the higher-priority target and destroyed it.Gary Sheftick, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/226890/smart_sensor_network_helps_redirect_missile (9 September 2019) Smart sensor network helps redirect missileThe GBU-69 was redirected; FARA is slated to replace AH-64 in subsequent A3I experimentsDan Gouré ttps://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2020/03/20/socom_has_solved_the_militarys_tower_of_babel_problem_115132.html (20 Mar 2020) SOCOM Has Solved the Military's 'Tower of Babel' Problem/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/future-vertical-lift-armys-aerial-vanguard/ (25 February 2020) Future Vertical Lift: Army's Aerial Vanguard LRPF will be the prime customer for the AI targeting data provided via FVL. The Joint force is also a consumer of this data, provided by FVL's manned or unmanned missions. ''See: § Air-launched effects''
##Indiscriminate use of thousands of offensive missiles against Ukraine "shows we should expect these weapons to become a common feature of 21st-century conflict" —unnamed DoD official, 27 October 2022.Mallory Shelbourne and Sam LaGrone (27 October 2022) Nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile Has ‘Zero Value,’ Latest Nuclear Posture Review FindsSLCM(N) would have fielded in 2035. Hence cancellation.
##Contested logistics are needed for Ukraine's Army, in a time span of months as of April 2022.Marcus Weisgerber ttps://www.defenseone.com/business/2022/04/it-will-be-years-raytheon-can-build-new-stinger-missiles/366105/ (26 Apr 2022) It Will Be Years Before Raytheon Can Build New Stinger Missiles"The U.S. has been sending its Stingers to Ukrainian forces battling Russia." Aid was being sent by Feb 2022, at the latest.Dan Grazier ttps://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/let-a-stinger-be-a-stinger-a-new-design-isnt-needed/ (27 Apr 2022) Let a Stinger be a Stinger. A new design isn't needed./ref>
#Soldier lethality
#*Sensor-to-shooter prototype for multi-domain battle, 2019 operational assessment: Air Force RCO / Army RCO / Network CFTClaire Heininger [https://www.army.mil/article/209672/army_air_force_team_on_sensor_to_shooter_prototype_for_multi_domain_battle (9 August 2018) Army, Air Force team on sensor to shooter prototype for multi-domain battle]Mark Pomerleau [https://www.c4isrnet.com/c2-comms/2018/04/11/in-the-move-to-multi-domain-operations-what-gets-lost/ (11 April 2018) In the move to multi-domain operations, what gets lost? ] The space, cyber, and information domains transcend geographic AoRsDan Gouré ttps://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2019/08/02/army_futures_commands_report_card_after_its_first_year_114632.html (2 August 2019) Army Futures Command's Report Card After Its First YearNeed: MDO doctrine in DoD, Two theater operation at island & continent, augment BCTs with higher echelon capability
#*Night vision goggles thermal polarimetric camera.ARL ttps://www.army.mil/article/211492/new_army_technology_guides_soldiers_in_complete_darkness (24 September 2018) New Army technology guides Soldiers in complete darkness/ref> Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS)Andrew Eversden ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/10/army-says-next-gen-ar-goggles-delayed-over-field-of-view-issues/ (18 Oct 2021) Army Says Next-Gen AR Goggles Delayed Over Field Of View Issues/ref>Joe Lacdan ttps://www.army.mil/article/221766/augmented_reality_training_on_the_horizon_to_give_soldiers_edge_in_combat (13 May 2019) Augmented reality training on the horizon to give Soldiers edge in combatallows repetition, for trainingTom McKay ttps://gizmodo.com/the-army-just-gave-a-press-demo-of-microsofts-hololens-1833863938 (6 April 2019) The Army Just Gave a Press Demo of Microsoft's HoloLens 2 Military Prototype/ref>Bridgett Siter ttps://www.army.mil/article/230034/soldiers_test_new_ivas_technology_capabilities_during_hand_on_exercises (19 November 2019) Soldiers test new IVAS technology, capabilities with hand-on exercisesIVAS: 1 Soldier Touchpoint (STP) STP is becoming rapid acquisitions methodology for AFCSydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/soldiers-coders-surprise-army-brass-changing-ivas-goggles/ (13 December 2019) Soldiers, Coders Surprise Army Brass By Changing IVAS GogglesFOV is turning out to be more important to the infantrymen than the range of the gogglesDevon L. Suits, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/230765/third_ivas_evaluation_slated_for_july (9 December 2019) Third IVAS evaluation slated for JulySoldier Touchpoint successfully increased IVAS FOV to 80 degrees while range of the goggles was still at 900 meters, from thermal nightsight capabilityThomas Brading, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/232503/new_technology_recognizes_faces_in_the_dark_far_away (10 February 2020) New technology recognizes faces in the dark, far awayCombines night vision with facial recognitionSydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/10/from-frankengoggle-to-battle-ready-army-ivas/ (5 October 2020) From ‘Frankengoggle’ To Battle-Ready: Army IVAS waterproof IVAS The Synthetic Training Environment (STE) is available to some of the troops outfitted with IVAS.Adam Stone ttps://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2021/09/30/us-army-makes-headway-on-synthetic-training-environment/ (30 Sep 2021) US Army makes headway on Synthetic Training Environment/ref> Christine Wormuth, 25th Secretary of the Army, has identified the Army's work on a Common operating picture ( COP) as foundational for the operation of the Joint services.Andrew Eversden ttps://breakingdefense.com/2021/12/heres-what-the-army-would-do-in-a-pacific-fight-wormuth/ (1 Dec 2021) Wormuth: Here's the Army's role in a Pacific fight/ref>Immersive Ops [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/immersive-wisdom-briefs-secretary-of-the-army-at-project-convergence-21-on-future-of-army-operations-centers-301423723.html (15 Nov 2021) Immersive Wisdom briefs Secretary of the Army at Project Convergence '21 on future of Army operations centers] 3D Virtual Operations Center software platformCaitlin M Kenney [https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/12/army-would-have-5-core-tasks-pacific-conflict/187212/ (1 Dec 2021) Army Would Have 5 ‘Core Tasks’ in a Pacific Conflict]
#*CCDC ARL researchers are developing a flexible, waterproof, lithium-ion battery of any size and shape, for soldiers to wear; the electrolyte is water itself. In 2020 the batteries were engineering prototypes; by 2021 soldiers will wear the battery for themselves for the first time.Thomas Brading, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/232406/army_scientists_on_verge_of_nearly_unbreakable_battery (6 February 2020) Army scientists on verge of nearly unbreakable batteryFirst announced in 2015
#**CCDC ARL and DoE's PNNL are examining the solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) as it first forms during the initial charging of a Lithium-ion battery. They have found an inner SEI (thin, dense, and inorganic—most likely lithium oxide) between the copper electrode, and an outer SEI which is organic and permeable—a finding which will be useful when building future batteries.U.S. Army CCDC Research Laboratory Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/232404/army_scientists_look_inside_batteries_with_a_molecular_eye (5 February 2020) Army scientists look inside batteries with a molecular eyeCCDC ARL "teamed with researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory" (PNNL)
*[https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-019-0618-4 ''Nature Nanotechnology'' (27 January 2020) Real-time mass spectrometric characterization of the solid–electrolyte interphase of a lithium-ion battery]
#*CCDC ARL and MIT researchers are formulating atomically thin materials to be layered upon soldiers' equipment and clothing for MDO information display and processing.CCDC Army Research Laboratory ttps://www.army.mil/article/233325/researchers_imagine_devices_without_cords_or_batteries(3 March 2020) Researchers imagine devices without cords or batteriesMolybdenum disulphide
#*Integrated, wearable cabling for capabilities such as IVAS, NGSW, or Nett Warrior are under development;Dan Lafontaine, C5ISR Center Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/235248/in_modernization_push_army_researches_integrated_power_cables_for_soldiers (4 May 2020) In modernization push, Army researches integrated power cables for Soldiersuses technology from Foreign Comparative Testing program (FCT) the potential exists to reduce 20 pounds of batteries to half that weight.Dan Lafontaine, C5ISR Center Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/224879 (17 Jan 2020) Army boosts Soldier battery power for greater lethality, mobilityby using silicon-based anodes
#*CCDC ARL is undertaking an Essential research program (ERP) in the processes underlying additive manufacturing (3D printing), which is applicable to munitions.U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/233054/additive_manufacturing_to_provide_soldiers_with_cutting_edge_munitions (25 February 2020) Additive manufacturing to provide Soldiers with cutting-edge munitionsThey "printed the world's first 3-D hybrid microcontroller circuit on a hemisphere that survived high G environments".
#*Natick Soldier RDEC has awarded an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract to prototype soldier exoskeletons which augment human leg strength under harsh conditions.NSRDEC Public Affairs [https://www.army.mil/article/212426/naticks_exoskeleton_work_is_a_powerful_step_toward_the_future_of_soldier_lethality (15 October 2018) Natick's exoskeleton work is a powerful step toward the future of Soldier lethality]RDECOM Soldier Center, Public Affairs Office [https://www.army.mil/article/216423/army_looks_at_more_advanced_exoskeleton_technologies_options (23 January 2019) Soldier Center partners with industry experts to advance exoskeleton technologies]Harvard ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N28bttqLoZE (17 Sep 2018) Multi-joint Personalized Exosuit Breaks New Groundvideo clipDavid Roza ttps://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-tests-exoskeleton/ (26 Aug 2022) The Army wants exoskeletons so soldiers can defeat their worst enemy: Lower back painAssistive technology adds 3 pounds of equipment, but stabilizes lower back
#* DEVCOM Chem Bio Center (CBC) is developing sensors to detect possible hazardous contamination.Jerilyn Coleman ttps://www.army.mil/article/256202/devcom_teams_explore_low_cost_lightweight_sensors_for_warfighter_use (28 Apr 2022) DEVCOM teams explore low-cost, lightweight sensors for warfighter useChem Bio Center (CBC) sensors to detect possible hazardous contamination
#*Plans for the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) are underway.Thomas Brading, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/226439/army_closer_to_delivering_new_infantry_squad_vehicle (29 August 2019) Army closer to delivering new infantry squad vehicle(ISV)
*9 Soldiers of an infantry squad will maneuver in an ISV
*Plans to purchase 649 prototypes were approved in February 2019
*3 industry leaders have been named (23 Aug. 2019), to deliver ISV prototypes
*# Oshkosh Defense/Flyer,
*# GM Defense, and
*# SAIC/Polaris
*Prototypes are due for initial assessment at Aberdeen Test Center 13 November 2019 through December 2019
*At Fort Bragg a second round of operational testing by Soldiers will be performed on the candidate ISV prototypes
*Downselect to one vendor is expected 2nd Quarter of FY2020Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/10/who-will-build-651-of-the-armys-parachuting-truck/ (8 October 2019) Who Will Build 651 Parachuting Trucks For The Army?2 air-drop-able prototypes from each vendor due 13 November 2019, An ISV is meant to be airdropped for a squad of nine paratroopers.Kyle Mizokami ttps://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a29432268/meet-the-armys-new-airborne-trucks/ (13 Oct 2019) Meet the Army's New Airborne Trucks/ref> The GM design was selected; first unit is expected at 1/82nd AB division in February 2021.GM Defense LLC ttps://euro-sd.com/2020/08/articles/18215/us-army-selects-gm-design-for-infantry-squad-vehicle/ (8 Aug 2020) US Army Selects GM Design for Infantry Squad Vehicle*Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2020/10/gm-defense-delivers-1st-air-droppable-trucks/ (27 October 2020) GM Defense Delivers 1st Air-Droppable TrucksCybersecurity is part of ISV electronics
*Kyle Mizokami ttps://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a34509879/us-army-new-infantry-squad-vehicle/ (29 Oct 2020) Here It Is: the Army's New Infantry Squad Vehicle
*Janes ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iywCrCRWlw (21 Oct 2019) AUSA 2019: GM Defense's Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) for U.S. Army Youtube clip, 9:27. No armor, has Roll bars.
#**Assured pointing, navigation and tracking (A-PNT) devices are being miniaturized, with increased redundant positioning sources. This aids wearability.
#**In September 2019 in the Maneuver CoE's Battle Lab at Fort Benning, OneSAF simulations of a platoon augmented by UAS drones, ground robots, and AI were able to dislodge a defending force 3 times larger, repeatedly. But by current doctrine, a near-battalion would have been required to accomplish that mission.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/ai-robots-crush-foes-in-army-wargame/ (19 December 2019) AI & Robots Crush Foes In Army Wargame*PM ITE ttps://www.peostri.army.mil/onesaf (October 2019) ONE SEMI-AUTOMATED FORCES (OneSAF)*Roger Smith ttp://www.simulationfirst.com/papers/RSmith_OneSAF_KIDA.pdf (2008) OneSAF: Next Generation Wargame Modelpdf

Waypoint 2028 and the Army of 2030

From 2022 to 2028, the Army, in multi-domain operation,Army University Press ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUZp01CjdiI (Dec 2021) WayPoint in 2028 – Multidomain Operations14:00 Lt Gen Theodore Martin, Commander of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, KS has designated the Corps to be the Unit of Employment; the Division echelon to be the Unit of Action; Brigades are Units for Close combat. Divisions are purpose-built designs:
ttps://www.battleorder.org/post/waypoint-divisions (26 Apr 2022) U.S. Army's Way Forward: 5 New Division Organizations
Todd South ttps://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/04/11/the-armys-transformation-begins-with-these-new-units/ (11 Apr 2022) The Army’s transformation begins with these new units Joint forcible entry airborne, and air assault;
Joint Publication 3-18 ttps://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp3_18ch1.pdf (Validated 9 July 2021) Joint Forcible Entry OperationsJP-3-18 Standard heavy, and light;Mark Cancian ttps://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/04/11/the-armys-transformation-begins-with-these-new-units/ (11 Apr 2022) The Army’s transformation begins with these new units Waypoint Divisions
unitsOfAction=Airborne 82ndAB, AirAssault 101stAA, PenetrationDiv 1stAD 1stCD 1stID 34thID, HeavyDivABCTs, LightDivIBCTs
and Heavy Reinforced (formerly Penetration) divisions.LTC Nathan Jennings ttps://www.ausa.org/publications/considering-penetration-division-implications-multi-domain-operations (26 Apr 2022) CONSIDERING THE PENETRATION DIVISION: IMPLICATIONS FOR MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONSAUSA Ethan Sterenfeld ttps://insidedefense.com/daily-news/army-will-realign-abcts-create-national-guard-penetration-division (12 Apr 2022) Army will realign ABCTs to create National Guard penetration division34th ID
Jonathan Koester ttps://www.army.mil/article/255628/future_penetration_division_focus_of_joint_warfighting_assessment_22 (13 Apr 2022) Future Penetration Division focus of Joint Warfighting Assessment 22/ref>Battle Order ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV4W8w1plug (Sep 2022) Transforming U.S. Armor Divisions For Future War20:45

By 2022 the 25th Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth was able to announce the top six areas for the Army of 2030:Christine Wormuth, 25th Secretary of the Army ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6N6rRAKl3o (10 Oct 2022) AUSA 2022 Opening Ceremony hour 0:37:50 to 1:05:41 1) improved Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ( ISR); 2) "Coordination at greater speed"; 3) "Win the Fires fight"; 4) §concealmentPatrick Tucker ttps://www.defenseone.com/threats/2022/09/ukraine-war-offers-clues-future-war-joint-chiefs-chairman-says/377150/ (14 Sep 2022) Ukraine War Offers Clues to Future War, Joint Chiefs Chairman Says/ref>The Economist ttps://www.economist.com/europe/2022/11/30/what-is-the-war-in-ukraine-teaching-western-armies? (30 Nov 2022) What is the war in Ukraine teaching Western armies?"It shows the importance of dispersal, firepower and stockpiles" via improved mobility and reduced signature; 5) "talk often and quickly"; and 6) logistics.Andrew Eversden ttps://breakingdefense.com/2022/09/wormuth-here-are-the-6-areas-the-army-must-be-prepared-for-in-2030/ (15 Sep 2022) Wormuth: Here are the 6 areas the Army must be prepared for in 2030/ref>Joe Lacdan, Army News Service ttps://www.army.mil/article/261388/army_of_2030_collaboration_key_to_army_modernization (24 Oct 2022) Army of 2030: Collaboration key to Army modernization
US Army Public Affairs [https://www.dvidshub.net/video/860148/ausa-contemporary-military-forum-army-2030-preparing-today-tomorrows-fight (10 Oct 2022) AUSA Contemporary Military Forum: Army 2030 - Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Fight] Gen. McConville, Gen.(Ret) Perkins, DepUnderSec Diaz, Gen. Rainey, LTG Beagle, Prof. Greer (SAMS)Caitlin Kenny [https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2022/10/divisions-corps-replace-brigades-armys-wartime-formation-choice/378234/ (10 Oct 2022) Divisions, Corps to Replace Brigades As Army’s Wartime Formation Of Choice] "Brigades that operated largely independently in Iraq and Afghanistan will fight as part of larger units in future conflicts, officials said".

TRADOC ttps://adminpubs.tradoc.army.mil/pamphlets/TP525-92.pdf (13 Apr 2022) The Operational Environment and the Changing Character of WarfareTP 525-92

;Army of 2040
By October 2022 the 25th Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth could charge the 2nd commander of Futures Command with proponency for the Army of 2040.Signal ttps://www.afcea.org/signal-media/army-takes-extended-view-2040 (10 Oct 2022) The Army Takes an Extended View to 2040/ref>Jaspreet Gill [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/10/with-new-tech-gateways-army-identifies-promising-ai-algorithms-at-project-convergence/ (19 Oct 2022) As Project Convergence tries new 'tech gateways', 2 AI algorithms to transition to programs of record] Todd Army 2040Parth Satam [https://eurasiantimes.com/decoding-himars-design-philosophy-latest-images-show-russia-could-be-analyzing-deadly-us-rockets/ (15 Nov 2022) Decoding HIMARS' 'Design Philosophy', Latest Images Show Russia Could Be Analyzing Deadly US Rockets]

Headquarters (HQ)

AFC's headquarters is based in Austin, Texas where it spreads across three locations totaling 75,000 ft²; One location is a University of Texas System building at 210 W. Seventh St. in downtown Austin, on the 15th and 19th floors; the UT Regents were not going to charge rent to AFC until December 2019. University of Texas System ttps://www.utsystem.edu/news/2018/07/13/university-texas-system-serve-home-base-us-army-futures-command (13 July 2018) University of Texas System to serve as home base for U.S. Army Futures Command/ref>Ralph K.M. Haurwitz - American-Statesman Staff [https://www.mystatesman.com/news/local/regents-give-army-futures-command-free-use-space-temporarily/Vg3OqBPmFazj5LXcNrgkHK/ (10 August 2018) UT regents give Army's Futures Command free use of space temporarily ] The command began initial operations on 1 July 2018.

Value stream

In a hearing before Congress' House Armed Services Committee, the AFC commander projected that materiel will result from the value stream below, within a two-year time frame, from concept to Soldier. The commanding general is assisted by three deputy commanders.
* The Futures and Concepts Center,Army Futures Command ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDTizak7Ja0 YouTube clip (7 December 2018) ARCIC Transition of Authority Ceremony 7 Dec 2018to Futures and Concepts Center, AFC is led by LTG Scott McKean. The first commander was AFC deputy commanding general LTG (Ret.) Eric J. Wesley,Army Futures Command US Army [https://www.army.mil/article/209932/army_futures_command_aims_to_tap_into_innovative_culture_in_austin_and_beyond (15 August 2018) Army Futures Command aims to tap into innovative culture in Austin and beyond] who sought 4 value streams for reducing the time invested to define a relevant requirement:Federal News Radio [https://federalnewsradio.com/on-dod/2018/08/the-army-has-picked-a-location-for-its-new-futures-command-but-now-comes-the-hard-part/ Army has picked a location for its new Futures Command, but now comes the hard part ]The RAND Corporation [https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1194/MR1194.appb.pdf (2000) ''Discovery and Innovation: Federal Research and Development in the Fifty States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico'' RAND MR1194 Appendix B: Government-Wide and DOD Definitions of R&D] See Appendix B p.615 for DOD Financial Management Regulation (Volume 2B, Chapter 5)
# Science and technology (S&T: discovery / collection of capability (systems engineering), ideas with usable effects)As an example, any number of effects can be weaponized (see p.1 ''The New York Times'' 2 September 2018 "Invisible strikes may be cause of envoy's ills", describing the Microwave auditory effect), or else countered. Hypersonic vehicles are a countermeasure to ballistic missiles.BETSY WOODRUFF SWAN, ANDREW DESIDERIO, LARA SELIGMAN and ERIN BANCO ttps://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/22/pentagon-russia-attacks-us-troops-484150 (22 Apr 2021) Pentagon investigated suspected Russian directed-energy attacks on U.S. troops/ref>
# Experiments (Testing of a system to a known expectation of effects, or else observation of that system, in the absence of a specific expectation of effects)
# Concepts development (Development of a relevant idea about that system)
# Requirements development (Development of the terms and conditions for that system)CRS Insight ttps://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/IN11019.pdf (IN11019) (17 January 2019) The U.S. Army and Multi-Domain OperationsCongressional Research Service (CRS)
*Todd South [https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/08/11/this-3-star-army-general-explains-what-multi-domain-operations-mean-for-you/ (11 August 2019) This 3-star Army general explains what multi-domain operations mean for you] "think, assess and employ all domains when necessary"—General Wesley
* Combat Development element,Sydney Freedberg [https://breakingdefense.com/2018/12/us-armys-brain-transplant-futurists-move-to-futures-command/ (10 Dec 2018) US Army's Brain Transplant: Futurists Move To Futures Command] Army Futures Command. LTG Richard R. Coffman is the deputy commander. He assists the commander with efforts to assess and integrate the future operational environment, emerging threats, and technologies to develop and deliver concepts, requirements, and future force designs to posture the Army for the future.
** The Capability development integration directorate ( #AFC branch locations, CDID) of each Center of Excellence ( CoE), works with its CFT and its research, development and engineering center ( RDEC) to develop operational experiments and prototypes to test.
** The Battle Labs and The Research Analysis Center (TRAC) prototype and analyze the concepts to test.
** JMC is capable of providing live developmental experiments to test those concepts or capabilities, "scalable from company level to corps, amid tough, realistic multi-domain operations".US Army ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9e38B4sxQ (4 Sep 2018) U.S. Army Pacific Commander Gen. Robert Brown: State of the Pacific /ref>
** RDECOM becomes the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC, or DEVCOM), part of the Combat Development element, on 3 February 2019.Argie Sarantinos-Perrin, CCDC HQ Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/216858/rdecom_transitions_to_army_futures_command (31 January 2019) RDECOM transitions to Army Futures Command/ref> ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/02/army-rd-chief-i-dont-think-we-went-far-enough-but-futures-command-can/ Army R&D Chief: 'I Don't Think We Went Far Enough'—But Futures Command Can/ref>Freedberg, Jr. [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/01/can-futures-command-end-acquisition-disasters-as-army-completes-biggest-reorg-since-1973 (31 Jan 2019) Army Completes Biggest Reorg In 45 Years: Can Futures Command End Weapons Disasters?] "... another thing we’ve not done very well—is doing the prototyping and experimentation with soldiers from the beginning, so we got soldier input into a program before it ever becomes a program of record" —Gen. 'Mike' Murray CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs ttps://www.army.mil/article/221048/army_selects_senior_research_scientist_for_terminal_ballistics (29 April 2019) Army selects senior research scientist for terminal ballisticsFewer than 50 STs across the Army: An ST is a general-officer equivalent
*U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory [https://www.army.mil/article/227359/army_research_uncovers_law_like_progression_of_weapons_technologies_from_a_crossbowman_to_a_tank (18 September 2019) Army research uncovers law-like progression of weapons technologies--from a crossbowman to a tank]
*Jerome Aliotta (TARDEC) [https://www.army.mil/article/226774/army_demos_prototype_manned_fighting_vehicle_teamed_with_robotic_combat_vehicle_platoon (6 September 2019) Army demos prototype manned fighting vehicle teamed with robotic combat vehicle platoon]
*Argie R. Sarantinos Perrin, CCDC ttps://www.army.mil/article/227834/army_reform_drives_innovation_at_ccdc (30 September 2019) Army reform drives innovation at CCDC/ref>
* Futures Command's Thomas H. Todd III, Lt. Gen. USA, is Deputy Commanding General of Acquisition and Systems (in 2018, denoted Combat Systems).
**Gen. Robert Abrams has tasked III Corps with providing Soldier feedback for the Next Generation Combat Vehicles CFT, XVIII Corps for the Soldier feedback on the Soldier lethality CFT, the Network CFT, as well as the Synthetic training CFT, and I Corps for the Long Range Precision Fires CFT.Myers [https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/03/27/abrams-army-units-will-be-tasked-to-work-on-each-of-futures-commands-priorities/ (27 March 2018) Abrams: Army units will be tasked to work on each of Futures Command's priorities]
**Combat Systems refines, engineers, and produces the developed solutions from Combat Development.Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howard [https://www.army.mil/article/223739/the_cheese_has_moved_an_interview_with_lt_gen_paul_ostrowski (18 July 2019) The Cheese Has Moved: An Interview With Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski] ttps://ftmeadesoundoff.com/communitynews/news/new-site-army-futures-command/ Ft Meade Soundoff! (19 July 2018) New site for Army Futures Command/ref>
**An analysis by AMSAA can then assess that concept or capability, as a promising system for a materiel development decision.

Army Chief of Staff Milley is looking for AFC to attain full operational capability (FOC) by August 2019.Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. ttps://breakingdefense.com/2019/01/2019-forecast-12-moments-of-truth-for-army-modernization/ (11 January 2019) 12 Moments Of Truth For Army Modernization In 2019/ref> United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) ttps://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-19-132 Report: GAO-19-132 (23 Jan 2019) ARMY MODERNIZATION: Steps Needed to Ensure Army Futures Command Fully Applies Leading Practices*United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) ttps://www.ausa.org/news/gao-futures-command-should-follow-best-practices (Feb 2019) AUSA synopsis/ref>Arpi Dilanian and Matthew Howard ttps://www.army.mil/article/227912/bridging_the_gap_to_army_2028_an_interview_with_gen_john_mike_murray (1 October 2019) Bridging the gap to Army 2028: An interview with Gen. John "Mike" Murray/ref> By 2022 the Army's unclassified Multi-Domain Operations concept (which had been initially formulated by Futures Command) was disclosed to the public.

List of commanding generals

On 16 July 2018, Lieutenant General John M. Murray was nominated for promotion and appointment as Army Futures Command's first commanding general. and his appointment was confirmed on 20 August 2018 ttps://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/08/22/austin-gets-its-general-army-futures-command.html Austin gets its general; Army Futures Command leader confirmed/ref> and he assumed command during the official activation ceremony of AFC on 24 August 2018, in Austin, Texas.
Murray relinquished command of AFC on 3 December 2021.Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/interviews/2021/07/12/army-futures-command-chief-on-what-his-team-got-right-and-wrong-since-its-founding/ (12 Jul 2021) Army Futures Command chief on what his team got right — and wrong — since its founding] Lieutenant General James E. Rainey (later promoted to general on 7 October 2022) became AFC's second commanding general on 4 October 2022.

See also

* Military acquisition#In the United States
* Military budget of the United States
* Command systems in the United States Army
* Air and Missile Defense
* Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center#Soldier Lethality
* Manhattan Project

Notes

References

External links

*
* [https://armyfuturescommand.com/events/ See AFC Events for the upcoming events: Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 26–28 March 2019: Multi-Domain Operations. Previous event: 8–10 October 2018]

{{authority control

2018 establishments in the United States
Buildings and structures in Austin, Texas
Commands of the United States Army
Military units and formations established in 2018
United States Army Commands, Futures