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War of the Future: How the U.S. Army's Futures Command Will Shape the Next Generation of Military Technology?
With the rapid evolution of technology and changes in the international situation, the US Army realizes that future wars will no longer be traditional forms of combat. Established in 2018, the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) is dedicated to improving the modernization and combat capabilities of the military to prepare for competition with near-peer adversaries. AFC is not only a leading organization for enhancing military capabilities, it is also the hub of military innovation and technological integration, shouldering the important task of shaping the future of warfare.
Historical Background"We must meet future warfare challenges faster and more efficiently."
The establishment of AFC marks a major strategic adjustment of the US Army for the future combat environment. Over the past few decades, the Army has faced multiple canceled programs and an inability to quickly field new combat systems. To address this challenge, the AFC was created to shorten research and development timelines and improve military requirements and system development processes to free up resources for more forward-looking modernization programs.
Modernization Priorities
AFC's primary mission focuses on six modernization priorities: long-range precision fires, next-generation combat vehicles, future vertical lift platforms, mobility and expeditionary force networks, air and missile defense capabilities, and soldier lethality. Technological innovation plays a key role in advancing these priorities, especially the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to further enhance combat capabilities.
"Through the integration of technologies, our goal is to demonstrate rapid response capabilities across sectors by 2028."
Roles of cross-functional teams
To ensure the effective advancement of each modernization priority project, AFC has established several cross-functional teams (CFTs). These teams not only cover the full range of modernization needs, but also integrate expertise from different fields and promote collaboration with allies. Under this flexible and efficient architecture, AFC continuously conducts experiments and tests to ensure that the technical systems developed can ultimately operate effectively in actual combat environments.
R&D and Experimentation
AFC focuses on entity research and development and experimentation. When testing new technologies, the AFC conducts large-scale joint tests to identify the technology's potential for application in future warfare. In this process, AFC has also deepened its cooperation with academia and has provided R&D funding to more than 300 universities to accelerate technological innovation and integration of commercial products.
Application of Artificial Intelligence
AFC’s emphasis on AI technology is self-evident. Through the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force, the AFC is conducting a series of scalable machine learning projects to support new military needs. These advanced technologies not only help improve decision-making capabilities and combat efficiency, but also provide sufficient technical support for the future troops' autonomous combat capabilities.
Future Challenges and Prospects
As the global military landscape changes, AFC faces the challenge of how to continue to modernize and maintain technological leadership. To remain viable in an uncertain future competition, AFC must continuously adjust its strategy to address new threats and opportunities. At the same time, a reassessment of existing procedures and their effectiveness is essential.
ConclusionThe establishment of the U.S. Army Futures Command and its ongoing modernization efforts are undoubtedly reshaping the military technology ecosystem. However, as technology continues to advance and external threats change, we can’t help but wonder where future wars will lead us?
