U.S. Army Secretary Mark Esper has said the military branch established a new organization consisting of cross-functional teams in a move to expedite the process for the military branch to develop technology requirements from 60 months to 12 months.
The Futures Command will have eight CFTs to be managed by leaders with experience in the acquisition, contracting, requirements and sustainment processes, the Army said Friday.
These groups report directly to the Army’s undersecretary and vice chief of staff.
Esper told Senate Armed Services Committee members Thursday at a hearing that CFTs will also support programs to modernize the service branch’s long-range precision weapons, next-generation combat vehicles, vertical lift platforms, mobile network, missile defense capacities and soldier lethality systems.
He added the Army seeks to implement a three-step process to address requirements and the phases will include prototype development; demonstration and testing; and evaluation.
At the SASC hearing, Esper also urged lawmakers to help address budgetary challenges facing the military service and to simplify the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
