Top U.S. special operations commanders warned lawmakers Wednesday that America is struggling to keep pace with adversaries in technological advancements, citing bureaucratic hurdles and slow modernization efforts as major concerns.
During testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, senior military leaders, including Maj. Gen. Peter Huntley, Rear Adm. Milton Sands III, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, and Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, emphasized that the decades-long advantage of being able to “sense the enemy before they sense us” is eroding due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, surveillance, and combat technologies by both great powers and non-state actors.
Rear Adm. Sands, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, stressed the need for quickly equipping troops with the technology necessary for survival on the modern battlefield. “Our priority is getting equipment into the hands of our operators rapidly, because they need it to survive,” Sands told lawmakers.
Lt. Gen. Braga, who leads Army Special Operations Command, echoed these concerns, warning that while special operations personnel are highly skilled at innovation, cumbersome funding and approval processes are slowing technological adoption. “Our people are great at innovating, they have fantastic ideas,” Braga said, but added that simple modifications often take months or years due to bureaucratic delays. He suggested that streamlining funding and oversight processes could accelerate modernization efforts.
Maj. Gen. Huntley, commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command, highlighted how artificial intelligence has already shifted the balance in warfare. “Modernization is moving very fast, and our ability to keep up with that pace is a challenge,” Huntley said. He warned that U.S. forces must quickly eliminate barriers to technological adoption, as adversaries continue to refine their battlefield capabilities. “That’s just kind of where the tactical world is right now and that’s where it’s going,” he noted.
Lt. Gen. Conley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, described the situation as “a constant loop of trying to catch up with the enemy threat.” While U.S. forces have been adapting through training and new tactics, Conley warned that procurement challenges are preventing them from making significant technological leaps. He specifically cited air fleet modifications as being both time-consuming and costly, limiting America’s ability to stay ahead of evolving threats.
All four commanders agreed that U.S. special operations forces must urgently remove obstacles to modernization. Braga suggested that improving innovation pipelines, funding flexibility, and acquisition oversight could help mitigate the risks posed by America’s technological lag.
