Objective force units using these future combat systems would be able to engage and be successful in the full spectrum of conflicts. These brigades are expected to use these vehicles to develop operational and organizational concepts, training needs, and doctrine. A major challenge facing the Army is balancing its transformation plans within the defense budget. Future Combat Systems

The Army’s foremost challenge in the transformation is to design and equip an objective force with the Future Combat Systems that have the deployability of its current light force and the lethality and survivability of its current heavy force. The Army’s modernization plans call for the integration of information technologies into the Army force; the Army refers to this as digitization. Following Best Practices Will Be Critical To The Army’s Success

The Army’s ability to meet its transformation goals will largely hinge on its ability to manage transformation acquisition efforts as successful commercial firms do. It agreed that there are significant challenges in balancing the desired schedule, the required resources, and the necessary maturation of technology to accomplish the Army’s transformation goals.
What GAO Found

Changes in the character and the conduct of warfighting and in the range and the nature of missions call for an Army force that is more responsive and dominant across the full spectrum of operations and requires much less in-theater logistics support. To meet these new demands, the Army is using the latest technology to develop a series of weapon systems that will be lighter than today's heavy force systems but just as lethal and survivable. The Army's transformation effort will face several challenges. First, the transformation will place additional funding demands on the defense budget. Second, the Army's plans for the transformation assume that weapons systems and equipment can be developed and acquired much faster than in the past. Third, the Army needs to update current acquisition plans to reflect transformation priorities and schedules. The success of this effort depends on the Army's ability to manage transformation acquisitions as leading commercial firms do. By following best practices used in the commercial sector, the Army can better match its needs with its resources.