Army chief warns future wars could strike U.S. bases and infrastructure

During a round-table at the Association of the United States Army annual conference, acting Army chief Christopher LaNeve cautioned that future wars may reach U.S. soil, with drones, cyber attacks and long-range weapons threatening bases and critical infrastructure. He noted that lessons from the Global War on Terror, when American forces could rely on secure home-front logistics, no longer apply. A recent Pentagon assessment warns that China has placed cyber tools within U.S. critical networks that could cripple military mobilization.

In response, the Army is rolling out the "How the Army Fights" framework, emphasizing the ability to deploy, communicate and sustain forces amid disrupted supply lines and communications. Counter-drone efforts are being coordinated through Joint Interagency Task Force 401, and biological-incident training is being added to regular combat drills. Senior officials, including Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, also highlighted the accelerating pace of surveillance and autonomous systems as further challenges.