US Army Plans $36 Billion Overhaul, Largest in Nearly 50 Years
The United States Army is launching its most significant overhaul since the Cold War, investing a projected $36 billion over the next five years to expand its use of drones and fully modernize weapon systems, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The Pentagon has raised concerns about the state of its military in relation to China over the past two administrations, with officials and leadership repeatedly labeling China a pacing challenge for the U.S. military. This means they view China as a long-term risk to U.S. influence and power.
Over those years, experts and leadership have highlighted different areas for improvement, such as hypersonic weapons and shipbuilding.
The U.S. Army will look to replace outdated weapons and systems with technologies that reflect the realities of modern warfare, influenced by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.
The overhaul is part of President Donald Trump's efforts to counter China's aggressive military. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Wednesday that directed the Pentagon to "build a leaner, more lethal force" by "divesting outdated, redundant, and ineffective programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems."
"Simultaneously, the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration's strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities," Hegseth wrote in his memo.
One of the biggest changes the force will tackle is equipping each of its 10 active-duty combat divisions with approximately 1,000 drones, something that Ukraine has leaned on heavily during the Russian invasion. Both Russia and Ukraine have deployed unmanned vehicles and units on the battlefield, including robotic dogs that Kyiv can use for increased surveillance and transport.
The Journal reported that the plan had been in development for over a year and included extensive testing at training sites, such as the Grafenwöhr Training Area in Bavaria, as well as other U.S. installations.
The last major equipment overhaul of the U.S. Army occurred during the late 1970s and mid-1980s with the introduction of the "Big Five" weapons systems: the M1 Abrams tank, M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter and the Patriot air defense missile system.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote in his memo: "The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength. To achieve this, the United States Army must prioritize defending our homeland and deterring China in the IndoPacific region. Deterring war, and if required, winning on the rapidly evolving battlefield requires Soldiers who are physically and mentally resilient, rigorously trained, and equipped with the best technology available."
Oxford University International Relations Professor Neta C. Crawford, who has written extensively on U.S. and global military expenditure trends, told Newsweek: "This spending saps the rest of the U.S. economy. But it is also unnecessary. Any military budget needs to be shaped by a military strategy that is sized to the threat. China is not now a match for the U.S., and Russia is a greatly weakened military power after years of fighting in Ukraine."
The Army will continue its review of spending and systems to pinpoint areas of improvement and work to overhaul those weaknesses over the course of Trump's second term in office.
