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Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Hearing on Army and Air Force Modernization (FY 2018)
Record date · January 1, 2019
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What This Bill Does
This document contains the transcript of Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearings held in March 2017 regarding the modernization of U.S. Army and Air Force capabilities. The hearings focused on addressing capability gaps against global rivals and evaluating the status of major defense programs.
The hearing sets the legislative foundation for the Fiscal Year 2018 defense budget, which determines funding levels for military equipment, personnel, and technology development programs that impact national security and defense industry contracts.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. Army
The branch is subject to modernization requirements and budget authorizations determined by the committee.
U.S. Air Force
The branch is subject to modernization requirements and budget authorizations determined by the committee.
Defense Contractors
Companies involved in the development of military systems like DCGS-A or active protection systems are impacted by congressional oversight and funding decisions.
Key Facts
- The subcommittee held hearings on March 22 and March 29, 2017, to review Army and Air Force modernization efforts.
- The hearings were conducted in support of S. 1519, the Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018.
- Senator Cotton stated that the Army is currently facing capability gaps in long-range artillery, integrated air defense, and cyber warfare compared to Russia and China.
- The subcommittee investigated the deployment status of active protection systems for Abrams, Bradley, and Stryker combat vehicles.
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- The Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A) was identified as a program that has received billions in funding over a decade but faces criticism regarding its battlefield utility.
- The hearing included testimony from senior military officials regarding the future of combat vehicle design and emerging technologies.
- The document includes a record of questions for the record submitted to the Department of Defense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift from Counter-Insurgency to Great Power Competition
The hearing marks a clear pivot in 2017 toward preparing for conflict with 'great powers' like Russia and China, moving away from the focus on short-term readiness for counter-insurgency operations.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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