We provide a summary of the progress made on the Army’s Big Six priority modernisation programmes.
The US Army Fiscal Year 2024 Budget reflects a total of $185.5 billion. Within this are included the allocation of funds for personnel, operations, and maintenance (O&M), procurement, military construction, and research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E). Of these personnel at $65.5 billion and O&M at $71.8 billion take up the largest shares. Both increase from the prior budget with just under $5 billion added for personnel and over $10 billion in O&M. This reflects a pay raise for soldiers but also anticipated future increased operational and training tempo.
Procurement and RDT&E together at $39.2 billion represent a smaller share compared to other budget areas. In addition, between these two it reflects over 40 percent allocated to R&D with 60 percent allocated to acquiring new equipment. Thus, a significant portion is directed toward developing future capabilities with less allocated toward near term force enhancements. The culmination of these R&D investments will need to be reflected in future procurement budgets which may need to see appreciable increases to achieve actual frontline unit benefits.
Recognising a battlefield shift from insurgency and reorienting toward more conventional warfare, in October 2017 then-Chief of Staff General Mark Milley announced the US Army’s intent to pursue six modernisation priorities. These were in order: long range precision (artillery) fires, armour, future vertical lift (aircraft), networks, air and missile defence, and soldier lethality. The Army 2024 Budget continues this emphasis stating, “It is imperative that the Army retains its overmatch and competitive advantage over potential adversaries. Successful implementation of the Army’s Modernisation Strategy will enable our forces to effectively fight and win…” The six modernisation priorities are united under the Army Futures Command (AFC) which leads eight Cross Functional Teams (CFTs). The AFC was designed to better coordinate the existing Army requirements, research and development, and acquisition processes. The objective was to speed up the introduction of new capabilities, technologies, and systems to the field.
In 2021 Army leaders, projected that by fiscal year 2023, 24 of the top 35 priority modernisation programmes would be “deployed”. With the passing of six years since implementing this new integrated approach it is worth considering the progress that has been made in what is referred to as the Big Six. Where does each stand in achieving the Army’s objectives? How close are they to fielding actual field capabilities?
Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF)
LRPF sees an increase of $36 million over the last budget. Several projects have made progress.
The Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) programme which is developing a howitzer with more than 43.5 miles (70 kilometres) range and features autoloading was intended to field an initial capability in 2023 but has had ‘technical issues’. Although the M1299 cannon has demonstrated firing to nearly 45 miles (72km) this planned timeline will not be met.
Precision Guided Missile (PrSM) Increment 1 with 310 miles (500km) range is being produced by Lockheed Martin to replace Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). Full scale production is expected in 2025. PrSM Inc 2 designing of a multimode seeker as the Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile (LBASM) seeker is critical to its role in the Pacific theatre. It and PrSM Inc 3, the enhanced lethality payload, remain in development. The Army has also awarded two contracts for design of a 620+ mile (1000km) Long Range Manoeuvrable Fires (LRMF) missile.
Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) (formally Mid-Range Capability – MRC) incorporates ground launching of the Standard missile and Tomahawk with 210-mile (338km) range using an adapted naval vertical launch system. Successful launch has been demonstrated with four prototypes and a battery command delivered in 2023. An additional three batteries are planned.
Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) – Testing and technical issues have found the original 2023 planned initial battery delayed. The LRHW will provide a truck launched hypersonic missile with 1,725-mile (2776km) range.
Next Generation Combat Vehicle
AMPV – Fielding of the Armoured Multi-purpose Vehicle (AMPV) to replace the M113, begun in 2014, has seen full-rate production approved on 31 August 2023. With contact options BAE Systems could deliver around 3,000 vehicles over a 20-year period.
M10 MPF – The Mobile Protected Firepower M10 Booker was awarded to General Dynamics in June 2022. Low-rate production will see the first unit equipped in late 2025. Four battalions are to be in place by 2030. The requirement was first identified in 1999 with the MPF solicitation issued in 2015.
OMFV – Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) was awarded Phase 3 detailed design and Phase 4 prototype contacts in June 2023. Awards were made to American Rheinmetall Vehicles (Sterling Heights, MI) and the industry-leading companies of Team Lynx — Anduril Industries, Textron Systems, Raytheon Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, and Allison Transmission. A down select is scheduled for 2027.
Abrams M1A2SEPv4 – The SEPv4 version of the Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT), in development since 2020, was to receive full-production decision in 2023 but was not included in the 2024 Budget. On 6 September 2023 SEP4 was cancelled with the Army announcing its intent to pursue a new M1E1.
Future Vertical Lift
FLRAA – The Future Long Range Assault Aircraft to replace the Blackhawk has moved to engineering and manufacturing development with selection of Bell Textron’s tiltrotor aircraft in December 2022. The critical design review is set for early 2025, with the six prototypes delivered from the summer of 2025 to summer of 2026.
FARA – The Army also plans a Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft to replace the already retired Bell OH-58 Kiowa Warriors and eventually Boeing AH-64 Apaches. Two preselected teams, Lockheed Martin and Bell are finishing prototypes but await engines from the delayed Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP). Flying prototypes are hoped for 2024 with a 2030 fielding sought.
Network
The 2018 Defense Budget Act directed the Army to report on its plan for “odernizing air-land ad-hoc, mobile tactical communications and data networks”. This plan proposed providing a Unified Network, developing a Common Operating Environment (COE), achieve joint interoperability, and improve command post mobility with reduced signatures. The focus since 2019 had been on the Infantry Brigade Combat Team Capability 21. Subsequently Capability 23 added bandwidth and increased resiliency. Capability 25 seeks to introduce automation and protection technologies. Command post displacement, reduced to one hour, now seeks a 15-minute goal. The improved CPs including new software are being fielded.
Air and Missile Defence
The air and missile defence efforts include integrated air and missile defence; counter-unmanned aircraft systems; manoeuvre-short range air defence; indirect fire protection capability; and lower tier air and missile defence sensors.
M-SHORAD – The M-SHORAD battalions using missiles, guns and sensors on a Stryker A1 vehicle are being fielded. The units will later receive a 50-kW directed energy solution still in development.
IFPC – Indirect Fire Protection Capabilities are also represented with Increment 2 missile systems to be delivered while Increment 3 High Energy Laser development continues.
LTAMDS – The Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor 360-degree radar, which was contracted for in 2019, has begun undergoing Army development testing. Congress mandated initial fielding by December 2023 including three for Guam by 2024.
IBCS – Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System offers an integrated network of all available sensors and effectors into one command and control system to see and act on data across the entire battlefield. It met its IOC in May 2023 and will enter full production.
Soldier Lethality
NGSW – Next Generation Squad Weapon contract award occurred in April 2022 with the XM7 individual rifle and XM250 squad automatic weapon. Two dozen weapons plus the XM157 fire control optic are delivered for field testing. Initial fielding is planned for 2024.
IVAS – Integrated Visual Augmentation System, an integrated heads-up display for ground soldiers. Despite a 2021 production contract to Microsoft, the system essentially remains in development. Numerous steps have been needed to attempt to address soldier issues identified in field evaluations. Although 5000 IVAS 1.0 have been delivered none have been issued. The current budget requests funds for an additional 5000 IVAS 1.2 with a reduced flip-up display and other improvements. However, the unit price has increased around thirty percent. Only further field testing in 2025 can determine the acceptability of the new design.
Army Budget Assessment
Overall, the Army budget reflects increases in the areas of air and missile defence as well as long range missiles. These reflect both a response to addressing the needs for tactical air defences and to the projected requirements of an Indo-Pacific campaign. Even with armoured vehicles the expeditionary focused M10 Booker MPF has equal billing with more traditional vehicles. This focus was confirmed by Undersecretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo in budget briefings saying, “We continue a lot of momentum on our modernisation strategy with continued development and procurement of all our major programmes, while increasing our overall investment in capabilities that are relevant to the Indo-Pacific: long-range fires, air defence and deep sensing, as well as logistics in a contested environment”. Still, he reflected “We are very pleased with FY24 budget submission,” as it continues emphasis on transformation programs while also funding quality-of-life initiatives.
The Army 2024 Budget still largely reflects the R&D efforts seen as necessary in most cases to addressing lapses in capabilities identified in the Big Six. The actual fielding of these capabilities in the coming year although welcome is for most programmes preliminary and in limited numbers. Broad Army wide representation of the return on these development investments remain for future budgets.
by Stephen W. Miller
