Building a Faster, More Versatile Force

Army leaders have set some ambitious goals for the service over the next few years. Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army's chief of staff, believes if the service is to be responsive to future threats, it must be able to deploy a combat brigade anywhere in the world in 96 hours; a division in 120 hours; and five divisions in 30 days. Given that it took the service more than 30 days to deploy 24 Apache attack helicopters and their supporting units-a total of far less than a single brigade-to Kosovo last year, that's a tall order.

What's more, speedier deployments are only part of the Army's vision of the future: Shinseki wants future weapons, such as tanks and howitzers, to be a fraction of the weight of current weapons-but still be as lethal and survivable on the battlefield. "Implementing the new vision requires comprehensive transformation," said Paul Hoeper, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee in March. "The Army's transformation strategy pursues capabilities for full-spectrum dominance in the future force that we call the 'objective force.' This objective force is more responsive, deployable, agile, versatile, lethal, survivable and sustainable than our present force."

Funding the modernization required by objective force goals has forced the Army to make some hard choices, Hoeper said. And the service is likely to face even harder choices over the next couple of years, unless future budgets receive a substantial boost from Congress. As the Army looks to lighten up, heavy systems such as the M1-A1 Abrams tank and the Crusader howitzer-both of which push 90 tons-start to look like liabilities. The Army already has restructured the Crusader program and put the artillery system on a strict weight-loss program.

Central to the Army's vision is the Future Combat System, a family of vehicles planned for 2012 and later. The vehicles are to weigh less than 20 tons apiece, so they could be transported by Air Force C-130 lifters. The Army is counting on advancements in technology to improve the lethality and survivability of light vehicles, enabling them to withstand intense close combat and dominate in a major theater war.

While the Future Combat System is under development, the Army is looking to buy an interim armored vehicle. Several vehicles that exist or are under development around the world could be modified to meet the Army's needs. The Army expects to begin the procurement and modification process in 2001.

Hoeper conceded that meeting the service's goals will be a stretch: "These are ambitious but achievable goals: to transform the entire force as soon as the technology permits and we are resourced to buy and sustain this force."

In addition, the Army will continue its program to upgrade fielded equipment with digital components, in its ongoing effort to exploit information technology on the battlefield. Ongoing upgrade programs for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Apache helicopter also will continue into 2001.

In addition, the Army will continue to nurse the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter program, which has been on the books for nearly 20 years and is meant to fill a long-standing need to conduct armed reconnaissance both day and night and in adverse weather. The service expects to test two prototype aircraft and develop the advanced T801 engine, composite air vehicle and Mission Equipment Package.