Pete Hegseth, secretary of the Department of Defense, has issued a memorandum directing the secretary of the Army to implement a comprehensive transformation strategy, reform the acquisition process, eliminate wasteful spending and streamline the military branch’s force structure.
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Army Future Warfare Preparation
In the memo dated Wednesday, Hegseth, a 2025 Wash100 awardee, is directing the secretary of the Army to advance the deployment of long-range missiles designed to strike moving ground and maritime targets by 2027; achieve electromagnetic and air-littoral dominance by 2027; and extend advanced manufacturing to operational units by 2026.
By 2027, artificial intelligence-driven command and control should be enabled at theater, corps and division headquarters.
The DOD secretary also calls for the modernization of the organic industrial base to produce ammunition stockpiles to sustain national defense during wartime through the implementation of 21st-century production capabilities. Hegseth expects the measure to achieve full operational capability by 2028.
According to the document, the Army should boost its forward presence in the Indo-Pacific region by expanding rotational deployments, prepositioned stocks and exercises with allies to improve basing, strategic access and overflight.
Army Acquisition Reform
The secretary of the Army should accelerate modernization and acquisition efficiency by working with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller, to consolidate budget lines and transition to capability-based funding across critical portfolios to ensure rapid technology adaptation.
The memo directs the Army to expand the use of other transaction authority agreements to facilitate rapid prototyping and fielding of critical technologies, including software and software-defined hardware; implement performance-based contracting to minimize waste; and expand multiyear procurement agreements when cost-effective.
Hegseth also wants the Army to identify and propose contract modifications for right to repair provisions where intellectual property matters restrict the service branch’s ability to perform maintenance and access the necessary maintenance tools, technical data and software.
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