RS20787 -- Army Transformation and Modernization: Overview and Issues for Congress
Updated March 11, 2004

	Background

Modernization is not a new issue or objective for U.S. military forces, but it has taken on new urgency because of: the post-Cold War downsizing andprocurement reductions, the new global environment and unexpected requirements, and the promise of a "revolutionin military affairs" (RMA) suggested byrapid developments in computers, communications, and guidance systems. These Legacy, Interim, and Objective Forces wouldeventually meld into the transformedObjective Force of the future. The Army is fielding a new capability based on the SBCT. All vehicles weigh less than 20 tons. It is an infantrybrigade of about 3,500 soldiers with the armored mobility needed to fight on a mid-intensity battlefield. Future Force. (6) A key component is expected to be a FutureCombat System (FCS) that could, as one capability, assume the role currently held by the Abrams tank. The ongoing program to replace old truckswill continue. Does the Army's planstrike the right balance in allocating resources between modernizing the current legacy force and developing andfielding the Future Force? For the short term, it is projected that some amount of modernization for current forces is needed to prevent further aging and degradation. Feasibility. Affordability.
The U.S. Army continues an ambitious program intended to transform itself into astrategically responsive forcedominant in all types of ground operations. As planned, its Future Force will eventually meld all ongoing initiativesinto a force based on a high-tech FutureCombat System (FCS). Its Current Force is beginning to provide a new combat capability, based oncurrent-technology armored vehicles, for the mid-intensitycombat operations that seem prevalent in today's world. Its current "legacy force" of existing systems is beingmodernized and maintained to ensure effectivelight and heavy force capabilities until the Future Force is realized. This short report briefly describes the programand discusses issues of feasibility, viability,and affordability of potential interest to Congress. It will be updated as events warrant.