The announcement comes as fears of a broader regional war grow, with Israel striking hundreds of targets in Lebanon in what is by far the deadliest cross-border escalation in nearly a year of violence between Israel and Hezbollah.

“In light of increased tension in the Middle East, and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told journalists, declining to provide further information for security reasons.

The United States has thousands of troops in the Middle East region, as well as warships, fighter jets, and air defense systems deployed to protect both its forces and Israel.

Ryder warned of the potential for the Israel-Hezbollah violence to escalate, calling for a diplomatic solution.

“Clearly there is the potential for these tit-for-tat operations between Israel and (Hezbollah) to escalate and to potentially spiral out of control into a wider regional war, which is why it’s so important that we resolve… the situation through diplomacy,” Ryder said.

World powers have implored Israel and Hezbollah to pull back from the brink of all-out war, with the focus of violence shifting sharply in recent days from Israel’s southern front with Gaza to its northern border with Lebanon.

Hezbollah, a powerful political and military force in Lebanon, has exchanged near-daily fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas.

The Palestinian militant group carried out the worst-ever attack on Israel on October 7, sparking a conflict that has drawn Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups around the region into the violence.

The post US Sending More Troops to Middle East as Tensions Grow appeared first on The Defense Post.

Under the partnership, Anduril will integrate its Lattice open software platform into the revolutionary goggles to enable operators to see threats faster across the battlespace.

The software utilizes sensor fusion, computer vision, edge computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect, track, and classify every object of interest in the operator’s surroundings.

Once activated, Lattice is expected to augment IVAS’ capabilities, enhancing soldier survivability in complex and contested environments.

“It’s one of the Army’s most critical programs being fielded in the near future,” Anduril founder Palmer Luckey said, referring to the IVAS. He added that the goal of the partnership is to ensure the device “gets the right data to the right people at the right time.”

‘Bringing a Full Picture’

According to Anduril, Lattice works by fusing multiple sensors, data, and assets into a single, AI-enabled software interface to automatically detect and monitor threats.

It employs advanced data processing techniques to filter high-value information, enabling operators to react to the most immediate threats first.

The software can also be used to further investigate threats by coordinating with other available platforms, such as drones and aircraft.

The company noted that its Lattice platform is also suited for monitoring land and maritime borders, as it can alert human operators to objects of interest through their desktop or mobile phones.

“IVAS brings a full picture of the battlefield to every soldier, enabling safer and more effective operations,” Microsoft VP of Mixed Reality Robin Seiler stated.

“Our collaboration with Anduril to integrate their suite of critical sensors … demonstrates the transformative capability of this fighting goggle and will allow us to further expand the impact IVAS will have for every US soldier.”

Struggling Program

Launched in 2018, the IVAS program aims to produce augmented reality goggles that are said to revolutionize how soldiers train and operate on the battlefield.

However, the initiative has faced challenges, with soldiers reporting disorientation, dizziness, eyestrain, and headaches after trying the equipment.

User feedback also revealed that fewer targets were hit when they used the early versions of the device.

The US Congress has already withheld nearly $350 million in funding for the goggles, with a Pentagon official claiming that the US Army might just waste billions of dollars on the program.

US Army Futures Command head Gen. James Rainey also stated that the upcoming operational tests of the IVAS goggles may determine the fate of the troubled initiative.

The post Anduril to Revive US Army’s Troubled IVAS Program, Partners With Microsoft appeared first on The Defense Post.

The ACFT, which emphasizes brute strength, appears to reinforce traditional gender stereotypes rather than accurately assess soldiers’ combat capabilities. This shift, introduced after women were allowed into combat roles, disproportionately disadvantages female soldiers while lowering the bar for men.

The Department of Defense (DoD) seems to be undermining Congressional mandates to integrate women into combat arms, setting fitness benchmarks that hinder both equality and readiness.

The decision to shift focus to raw strength under the ACFT comes at a politically charged moment in the military’s long struggle with gender roles. While the test was initially presented as a gender-neutral assessment, its implementation suggests a deliberate move to preserve male dominance in the military’s most elite ranks.

The study’s findings highlight how the ACFT’s standards fail to reflect the broad range of competencies necessary for effective combat, including teamwork, decision-making, and tasks that properly measure flexibility, agility, and endurance.

About the Study

This study is part of my graduate research while pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Oxford.

Having served in both Civil Affairs (Airborne) and Military Intelligence, I conducted this research with a focus on military readiness and gender equality in combat roles. With 21 years of military service, including leadership roles such as commanding a company of drill sergeants and deployments to Afghanistan and Qatar in support of combat operations, I drew on my experiences to critically examine the ACFT and its broader implications.

For this study, I used a mixed-method approach that included an extensive text analysis of Army combat manuals, interviews with senior officers, and a detailed survey of over 400 soldiers’ fitness test scores.

This allowed me to explore both the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of the ACFT’s impact, providing a comprehensive view of how fitness standards affect gender equality in the Army.

My research seeks to answer whether the ACFT’s design truly aligns with the physical demands of modern combat and whether it helps or hinders the integration of women into combat arms roles.

Disconnect Between Standards and Combat Readiness

Through text analysis of Army combat manuals, the study uncovers a clear disconnect between the ACFT’s focus on brute strength and the more nuanced skills required for battlefield success.

Through text analysis tools, researchers can systematically examine and quantify patterns within large amounts of information, offering insights into how these manuals prioritize various capabilities.

Army combat manuals prioritize capabilities that extend far beyond sheer physical power, raising questions about why the ACFT neglects these critical aspects. By elevating raw strength as the primary marker of fitness, the ACFT subtly redefines what it means to be combat-ready in a way that perpetuates gender inequality.

The most alarming revelation comes from data showing that the ACFT has significantly lowered fitness standards for men.

Under the previous Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), far fewer men qualified as “highly fit.” Now, men are passing and maintain elite categories under the ACFT at unprecedented rates. For instance, in initial trials at Fort Sill, nearly every male soldier passed the ACFT, while 61 percent had previously failed the APFT.

The data points to an uncomfortable reality: the ACFT is less challenging for male physiology, giving men an unnecessary advantage under the guise of gender neutrality.

Survey data further illustrates this imbalance. Even after gender-normed scoring, men still outperformed women by 3.29 percent, despite the survey including a significant number of exceptionally fit women.

This finding underscores the deep flaws in the ACFT’s design, which continues to act as a barrier to women’s advancement in the military. The survey’s analysis of individual events, such as the shift from sit-ups to planks and the introduction of the hand-release push-up, raises serious questions about why the Army chose exercises that seem to disproportionately disadvantage women’s physiology.

The findings from the Baseline Soldier Physical Readiness Requirements Study (BSPRRS), which were used as the reasoning for including the plank and now discontinued leg tuck in the ACFT, contradict broader medical literature that traditionally uses sit-ups to assess core strength.

The hand-release push-up, which a RAND report found to have weaker validity in assessing upper body strength compared to traditional push-ups, requires repeated impact on female breast tissue, leading to unnecessary discomfort and potential performance challenges for women.

Similarly, the RAND study notes that while sit-ups have traditionally been used to measure core endurance, there is limited evidence supporting the plank exercise in this context, particularly in relation to military tasks. The report highlights the need for further analysis to validate the plank’s effectiveness.

The shift from sit-ups to the plank exercise disproportionately affects female soldiers. Sit-ups, by allowing women to leverage their typically stronger lower body muscles and wider base, result in closer scoring parity between genders whereas the plank requires greater shoulder stability and upper body strength.

This disparity in event selection raises serious concerns because it directly limits women’s opportunities for promotions, access to advanced military schools, and competitive positions within the Army.

As the largest branch of the US military, the Army’s adoption of this fitness test sets a precedent that could be closely followed by other service branches, potentially magnifying the impact on gender equity across the military.

Challenging Gender Norms in Combat Roles

The findings also challenge the necessity of requiring women to meet the same physical strength standards as men. The study argues that women can perform combat roles effectively without needing to match men’s strength. These insights call for an urgent reevaluation of the ACFT to ensure it aligns with the actual demands of combat and provides a fair assessment for all soldiers, regardless of gender.

What’s at stake here goes beyond fitness standards. The ACFT represents a battleground in the military’s ongoing debate over gender equality.

By implementing a test designed to favor male soldiers, the Army reinforces outdated gender norms at a time when the country is pushing for greater inclusivity in its armed forces. Congressional mandates aimed at promoting gender equity in the military are at odds with the direction the Army has taken with the ACFT, and the political fallout could be significant.

As pressure mounts on the military to address the ethical, legal, and practical implications of the ACFT, this study’s conclusions could drive sweeping reforms. By calling for gender-specific physical fitness tests alongside gender-neutral combat task assessments according to occupational specialty, the report advocates for a more equitable approach to physical readiness in the Army.

In a military environment where inclusivity and effectiveness are paramount, the ACFT needs to be rethought entirely to ensure that all soldiers are judged fairly and according to the real demands of modern warfare.

This battle over fitness standards isn’t just about physical capabilities — it’s a reflection of the Army’s deeper struggle to redefine its identity in a more diverse and inclusive future. The outcome of this struggle will determine whether the Army truly stands for equality or remains mired in outdated traditions that reinforce gender inequality.

Major Amy Forza, US Army Reserve, specializes in Civil Affairs (Airborne) and Military Intelligence. With 21 years of military service, she has served both as an enlisted soldier and a commissioned officer. She has held various leadership roles, including company command and multiple deployments in support of combat operations.

Amy has commanded a unit training Army Drill Sergeants and initial entry training soldiers. She served as an Intelligence and Operations Officer in Afghanistan and Qatar and has cultivated a deep understanding of the nuances of military training and fitness assessments.

Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Oxford.

Her article presents findings from her dissertation, which includes text analysis and survey data on the ACFT, highlighting the need for revisions to better align the test with the diverse operational demands of modern military engagements.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Defense Post.

The Defense Post aims to publish a wide range of high-quality opinion and analysis from a diverse array of people – do you want to send us yours? Click here to submit an op-ed.

The post The Army’s Fitness Test: A Political Battlefield Over Gender Equality appeared first on The Defense Post.

The platforms will be added to the 2,677 FMTV A2s delivered to the service since the initial order under the program.

The latest deal serves as the army’s fourth order for the vehicles this year, including a tranche worth $108.9 million last May for the service and its foreign military sales partners.

“The FMTV A2 demonstrates Oshkosh’s engineering innovation and manufacturing expertise to design vehicles that adapt to dynamic mission demands and surpass performance requirements,” Oshkosh Defense Chief Programs Officer Pat Williams stated.

“We are honored to contribute to the Army’s modernization efforts and deliver the most advanced tactical vehicles to support evolving missions while enhancing the safety and effectiveness of our Soldiers.”

Oshkosh FMTV A2

The FMTV A2 is offered in 12 truck, 4 chassis, and 3 trailer options to support different user requirements.

Its main variants include a 4×4 cargo, 6×6 cargo, and dump truck that can be integrated with different mission components.

Depending on its configuration, the FMTV A2 can transport payloads weighing from 5,000 to 20,000 pounds (2,268 to 9,072 kilograms).

In 2023, the US Army tapped Oshkosh to provide 16 variants worth $201 million. This contract followed a $141-million.contract for approximately 400 FMTVs.

The post US Army Orders More FMTV Vehicles From Oshkosh appeared first on The Defense Post.

The system reportedly detected and tracked the moving targets before firing AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to complete the intercepts.

It also demonstrated its ability to operate with the Integrated Battle Command System and the Sentinel A3 air and missile defense radar to effectively neutralize the targets.

According to Leidos Vice President Dino Pusinsky, the test underscored the company’s commitment to helping the US Army stay ahead of adversaries.

It also “marks another major step forward in evaluating the overall operational capability and lethality” of the cutting-edge weapon system.

Indirect Fire Protection Capability

In September 2021, Leidos accepted a contract to develop a ground-based weapon system as part of the US Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 program.

The weapon is envisioned as a key component of a layered solution for protecting critical civilian and military infrastructure.

Enduring Shield is designed to bridge the gap between the service’s tactical short-range air defense systems and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

In December 2023, the weapon showcased its ability to fire an experimental AIM-9X missile interceptor for the first time.

Leidos is now conducting hardware upgrades to further mature the system as part of a new contract awarded by the US Army.

“We believe this award will let us showcase the ability of the IFPC Inc. 2 system to transform warfighting capabilities as it progresses toward being declared operationally ready for our warfighters,” company senior vice president Larry Barisciano said.

The post Leidos’ Enduring Shield Intercepts Drone, Cruise Missile in Flight Test appeared first on The Defense Post.

A request for proposals was issued in May for the four defense contractors selected for the RCV Phase I last year: Oshkosh, Textron Systems, General Dynamics, and McQ.

Oshkosh submitted its proposal along with a pair of RCV prototypes it built for phase I on August 19.

According to the contractor, “the Oshkosh RCV is purpose-built to provide soldiers with the capabilities necessary for increased performance, improved maintainability, and flexibility in multi-domain operations.”

Moreover, it is modular and platform-agnostic and supports the integration of future technologies.

RCV Program Phase II

A total of nine prototypes will be built for phase II by each participant at a base price of $118.9 million by early 2026.

The prototypes will be built on the phase I iterations, supporting platform mobility testing and soldier touchpoints as part of the Phase II source selection.

The winner is expected to be awarded a potential follow-on production contract of $607 million, with fielding starting in 2028.

“The Oshkosh team, with Pratt Miller Defense and QinetiQ US, has applied early feedback to deliver prototypes and a Phase II proposal that are soldier-centered and designed to keep pace with the evolving battlefield,” chief programs officer at Oshkosh Defense Pat Williams said.

“We remain steadfast in our collaboration with the U.S. Army to provide the most capable, mature, and production-ready RCV offering to achieve the program’s rapid prototype and fielding schedule.”

Robotic Combat Vehicle

The initiative aims to integrate human-machine integration on the battlefield, putting the uncrewed combat vehicles ahead of the soldiers.

The vehicle should have the capability to defeat light to medium-armored platforms, featuring anti-tank missiles and recoilless rifles.

Three RCV versions were initially envisioned by the service, which later zeroed in on the lighter version that can be transported by rotary-wing aircraft.

It should weigh around 8,500 pounds (3,855 kilograms), with a payload not exceeding 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms).

The program has four components: “the chassis, the network that connects the Robotic Combat Vehicle to a control vehicle, the control vehicle and modular payloads,” National Defense quoted Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman as saying.

The post Oshkosh Submits US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle Phase II Proposal appeared first on The Defense Post.

They are intended to replenish some of the over 300 Bradleys sent to Ukraine with an updated version.

“The Bradley Fighting Vehicle brings game-changing capabilities to the Army and our allied nations,” director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems business Dan Furber said.

“Because of the support for additional production of the modern Bradley A4 variant, this enduring capability continues to make a difference for troops all over the world, ensuring they have the firepower, mobility and survivability they need to achieve their missions.”

Bradley A4

The A4 retains the previous design for logistics reasons while enhancing its battlefield performance in a range of scenarios, including close-combat, urban warfare, and open-combat situations. 

It features new suspension and track upgrades, improving mobility, architecture, and power management, enabling the platform to host technologies such as the Active Protection System and communications technology.

Additionally, it features “the latest digitized electronics for optimum situational awareness, network connectivity and communication within the [Armored Brigade Combat Team].”

The post US Army Orders Over 200 Bradley A4s to Replenish Ukraine Deliveries appeared first on The Defense Post.

A multi-mission tilt-duct vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, the ARES-DV was tested twice, with its first flight without a payload sustaining a one-minute tethered hover before its descent. 

The second flight involved the attachment of the US Army’s Mobile Multiple Mission Module before the aircraft achieved another successful one-minute tethered hover.

This experimental flight test milestone for VTOL technology will support small distributed combat units through its multi-mission capabilities, such as autonomous airborne casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and cargo resupply. 

“ARES creates a new baseline for VTOL technology applied to heavy-payload, time-critical logistics crucial for dispersed operations,” Air Force Research Laboratory Program Manager Barth Shenk remarked.

This project was funded with $37 million from the US Air Force and Army’s Strategic Funding Initiative as part of a multi-year contract awarded to Piasecki in November 2023. 

Starting as a DARPA conceptual design project, the ARES underwent years of design iterations, rigorous component testing, and system-level validation leading up to the tests last week.

The ARES-DV

The ARES-DV features a modular design with rapidly reconfigurable Mission Payload Modules that can operate as either an unmanned aerial system or with an optional manned flight module, allowing it to meet diverse mission needs.

Its tilt-duct design with two ducted fans enables it to ascend vertically and fly horizontally.

Space and weight efficiency are crucial for the VTOL vehicle, so it is designed with a small landing footprint to carry out its roles on shipboard and expeditionary operations.

It can also provide embedded multi-mission C4I, ISR, combat, and logistics support to small, distributed combat forces operating over extended distances and in complex terrain.

Additionally, the aircraft uses Honeywell Aerospace’s Compact Fly-By-Wire system, a lightweight and robust integrated flight control system made to fit limited spaces.

The Fly-By-Wire system enhances the aircraft’s safety and performance through its safety-critical flight control capabilities typically found in much larger airliners and advanced fighter aircraft.

Moreover, it also provides the aircraft with precise handling and stability across a wide range of flight conditions.

“I’d like to thank our Air Force and Army customers as well as our dedicated employees and partners for their continued support as we move forward with the next phases of development,” Piasecki CEO John Piasecki said. 

The company plans to expand the aircraft’s capabilities to include fully autonomous CASEVAC and logistics resupply functions. 

“Successful flight demonstration of the ARES proof of concept demonstrator significantly reduces risk and accelerates the development timeline for a family of operational tilt-duct configurations for multi-mission VTOL UAS and high-speed VTOL applications,” Piasecki added. 

The post Piasecki Conducts Milestone ARES-DV Flight, Signals Potential for Military Use appeared first on The Defense Post.

Anduril Industries and Performance Drone Works have each received 10-year contracts to provide their Ghost X and C-100 drones, respectively, to meet the service’s ISTAR requirements.

These drones will support Brigade Combat Teams in various environmental conditions.

Program Executive Officer Brig. Gen. David Phillips said the two companies were selected following thorough evaluations and flight demonstrations over a five-month period.

US Army acquisition assistant secretary Douglas Bush also noted that the milestone is an example of the service’s ability to rapidly transition from concept to contract, quickly delivering the new technology to soldiers.

“This shows [that] the acquisition system can move at the pace needed to support the Army, especially in rapidly emerging technology areas like small uncrewed aircraft systems (s-UAS),” he expressed.

Chosen Solutions

Unveiled in 2023, Anduril’s Ghost X is an expeditionary s-UAS purpose-built for reconnaissance and force protection.

It has a dual battery for an extended flight time of 75 minutes and an increased payload capacity of 9 kilograms (20 pounds).

Thanks to its long-range communications suite, the drone can fly up to 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away from the operator.

The C-100, meanwhile, is a heavy-lift, man-packable quadcopter that boasts a flight endurance of 74 minutes and a range of more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

It also has a payload capacity of 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms).

According to Performance Drone Works, the C-100 is aligned with dynamic military targeting methodology and supports tactical intelligence missions.

The post US Army Selects Two Firms for Company-Level ISTAR Drone Program appeared first on The Defense Post.

This was revealed by the American Security Project after conducting a comprehensive study on the broader impacts of obesity in the military system.

According to the DC-based think tank, two-thirds of active-duty servicemembers are considered overweight or obese.

This poses a serious concern about troop readiness as the problem “impacts manpower, health, and combat effectiveness,” said lead researcher Courtney Manning.

Additionally, obesity is costing billions in taxpayers’ money, with approximately $1.25 billion spent last year in treating obesity-related diseases and an additional $99 million in lost productivity while these patients are hospitalized.

“America can no longer afford to ignore this crisis,” the researchers wrote. “The US armed forces face an unprecedented challenge as obesity prevalence among service members continues to rise.”

Impact on Recruitment, Retention

The study found that obesity is also a leading driver of the persistent recruitment crisis in the military.

In 2023, about 52,000 applicants were reportedly disqualified because of their weight.

According to the researchers, the problem is “keeping people out of the service, forcing troops to leave the service, and raising the risks to those still in service.”

They also pointed out that none of the 22 military weight loss programs have proven effective, with only about three percent of troops managing to lose five percent of their body weight and keep it off longer than 12 months.

Recommendations

The American Security Project is urging the US military to take a more proactive approach to preventing obesity among its servicemembers.

This includes providing young soldiers with adequate health and nutrition education and access to quality food.

The researchers also want the military to officially classify obesity as a disease so proper treatment can be given.

“Without this written classification and its associated protections, service members face bias and discrimination for ‘exceeding weight standards,’ becoming ineligible for promotion, educational privileges, deployment, or disability compensation,” they wrote.

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