29th Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Official Portrait (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)
In a landmark April 30th directive, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a sweeping transformation of the U.S. Army. Emphasizing deterrence against China and defense of the homeland, Hegseth outlined a vision for a leaner, more lethal force adapted to 21st-century warfare.
“To deter war and win if required, we need Soldiers who are rigorously trained and equipped with the best tech available,” Hegseth stated.
Core Objectives:
- AI-driven command and control at corps and division levels by 2027
- Drone swarms and unmanned systems integrated across maneuver units
- Electromagnetic and air-littoral dominance
- Advanced manufacturing and 3D printing in operational units by 2026
- Expanded Indo-Pacific presence through prepositioned stocks and joint exercises
Structural Overhaul:
- Eliminate redundant headquarters
- Merge TRADOC with Army Futures Command
- Cut outdated attack helicopter units and some armor formations
- Streamline the civilian workforce and reduce general officer positions
Acquisition Reform:
- Cancel obsolete or ineffective systems
- Include “right to repair” clauses in all contracts
- Adopt performance-based contracting and multi-year procurement when cost-effective
The Army also plans to modernize its Organic Industrial Base to support wartime ammo stockpiling, with full operational capability by 2028.
The memo signals a sharp pivot toward technology, flexibility, and efficiency. As Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll put it, “We’re completely focused on buying warfighting technologies.”
More to come on Defence Watch as this develops.
