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4w ago

Defense Secretary Hegseth Orders Largest Army Overhaul in Nearly 50 Years

The $36 billion transformation focuses on modernizing technology, restructuring commands, and divesting outdated systems to prepare for future warfare.

A soldier of a UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) platoon of the U.S. Army 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, readies a Anduril Ghost-X helicopter surveillance drone for take-off during the Combined Resolve 25-1 military exercises at the Hohenfels Training Area in Bavaria on February 3, 2025 near Hohenfels, Germany.
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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Overview

  • Every U.S. Army combat division will be equipped with approximately 1,000 drones by the end of 2026, emphasizing the shift toward unmanned systems inspired by lessons from the Ukraine conflict.
  • Major command consolidations include merging Army Futures Command with Training and Doctrine Command and combining U.S. Army North and South into a single homeland defense-focused entity.
  • The directive mandates the cancellation or scaling back of legacy systems, such as Humvees, certain crewed helicopters, and outdated drones, reallocating resources to advanced technologies.
  • New capabilities to be prioritized include AI-driven command systems, counter-drone measures, long-range missiles, and 3D printing, with key deadlines set between 2026 and 2028.
  • Projected to cost $36 billion over five years, the transformation faces potential congressional scrutiny, particularly regarding program cuts and budget reallocations.