Monday, March 20, 2023
Tony Bertuca is chief editor of Inside the Pentagon, the flagship publication of InsideDefense, where he focuses on defense budget and acquisition policy. He previously worked for the Sun-Times News Group in his hometown of Chicago, IL, and at the New Hampshire Union Leader in Manchester, NH. Tony has also served as managing editor of Inside the Army. He has a master's degree in journalism from Boston University.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- In one of his first public speaking engagements since being nominated to become the Army's next chief of staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey said today that he feels "daunted" given the challenges he will face if confirmed for the job.
The Army today asked Congress for a fiscal year 2012 base budget of $145 billion, plus $71 billion for war costs, seeking a significant plus-up for aviation programs and requesting $884 million to develop the Ground Combat Vehicle.
President Obama has officially nominated Gen. Martin Dempsey to become the Army's next chief of staff, according to the Feb. 7 Congressional Record.
The chief of the Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command spoke this week about the importance of making technological advancements to vehicle platforms in the face of constraining budgets, laying out a basic wish list for the command and the service.
The chief of the Army Reserve predicted today that his force would likely add a greater mix of capabilities as the active force begins to cut its end strength in the next five years. But he is also concerned that future belt tightening could adversely impact investments in training.
Despite the Army's efforts to achieve a more sustainable operational energy strategy, there are no governmental policies in place to drive acquisition requirements that would reduce energy use, an Army official said last week.
The Army has identified two variants of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for divestiture, according to government officials who briefed reporters today about the service's new tactical wheeled vehicle strategy.
Three familiar industry teams are again bidding for a chance to enter the Army's Ground Combat Vehicle technology-demonstration phase. All three teams responded to a previous request for proposals before the Army canceled the solicitation.
A small Michigan company has officially withdrawn from the Army's Ground Combat Vehicle competition, blaming the service's expensive and “drawn-out” acquisition plan.
In the 1954 film White Christmas, Bing Crosby plays a WWII veteran who often breaks into song when expressing affection for his beloved general, ushering chestnuts like “What Can You Do With a General?” and “We'll Follow the Old Man” into the great American songbook.
The Pentagon and the Army have decided to procure two additional sets of the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle and one additional set of Network Integration Kits for low-rate initial production, service and industry sources close to the decision told Inside the Army today.
The Pentagon is expected to cancel the Class 1 Unmanned Aerial System and two varieties of unmanned ground sensors from the Army's Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team, according to sources and documents obtained by Inside the Army.
The Defense Department today announced $29 billion in Army efficiencies over the next five years, canceling several programs and shifting savings to the modernization and fielding of key vehicle, aviation and communications assets.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced today his decision to recommend that President Obama nominate Gen. Martin Dempsey as the Army's next chief of staff.
As the American defense community prepares for budget efficiency announcements to be made today by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said the service's primary challenge would be maintaining its combat edge while simultaneously fighting a war and tightening its belt.
Defense analysts at the Lexington Institute have been tough on the Army's Ground Combat Vehicle lately -- one official even went as far as to call the vehicle program "doomed" -- but the service hasn't been shy about defending its strategy.
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli made a special appearance at a pre-proposal conference for the Ground Combat Vehicle held in Dearborn, MI, on Dec. 18, according to a statement from the service.
The Defense Acquisition Board review of the Army's Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team suite of technologies has been postponed until mid-January due to scheduling conflicts, according to defense officials.
Weapons testers from the Army and the Office of the Secretary of Defense are scheduled to complete the testing of six active-protections systems at the end of January.
Lt. Gen. Michael Vane, the deputy commanding general of Army Training and Doctrine Command and director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center, is responding today to critics at the Lexington Institute who have disparaged the Army's vehicle modernization strategy and, in particular, the new plan for the Ground Combat Vehicle.