US Army Talks Tanks as Russia's Hit Ukraine: In a force that strives to be lighter, more flexible and expeditionary, one might assume heavy armor had fallen out of vogue for the US Army, but not so, according to one of the Army's top modernization officials. The service is putting the finishing touches on a combat vehicle modernization strategy that explores a range of vehicles.
"Armored vehicles are immensely important, unless you are building a force to re-enact World War I," said Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who runs the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) and is chief of "futures" for Training and Doctrine Command.
In a Thursday morning discussion with reporters, McMaster said the Army's nascent vehicle modernization strategy calls for each formation to have a balance of mobility, protection and lethality for its mission. The document, he said, "endeavors to magnify the strengths and compensate for the weaknesses" in each.
The conversation comes as the Army plans to send an armored brigade's worth of heavy vehicles to Europe by year's end. Forces rotating into the region would fall in on the equipment as they train with troops in Poland and the Baltic states. Soldiers with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment are next, and then the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
A year ago marked the return of US heavy armor to Europe, as the first Army M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks and M2A3/M3A3 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles rolled into the Grafenwoehr Training Area.
