Senior military general warns next US war could reach American soil

New Army framework "How the Army Fights" prepares U.S. forces for contested deployments as drones and surveillance reshape the battlefield

: US military revamps war strategy as drones change battlefield

Acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher Lanew explains how lessons from Iran, Ukraine and cartel drone operations are changing the Army's approach to combat, from new technology to basic skills of soldiers on the battlefield.

The U.S. military has largely operated on a familiar premise: Fight the enemy overseas before the battle comes home.

But as drones, cyberattacks and long-range weapons pose increasing threats to U.S. military installations and critical infrastructure, military leaders are preparing for a future in which U.S. forces could be attacked before they deploy overseas.

He said the military is rethinking assumptions made during the decades-long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, when U.S. forces could rely largely on secure bases and supply lines inside.

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"During the global war on terror, we took a lot of things for granted because we could," LaNeve said at a small group panel discussion at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington this week.

In a potential conflict with China, disruption of US military bases, transportation and communications networks could delay US forces from reaching the battlefield. The latest Pentagon report on China's military capabilities warns that Beijing has placed cyber capabilities inside US critical infrastructure networks that could be used to disrupt US military mobilization during a conflict.

The concerns come as the Pentagon puts a renewed emphasis on defending the homeland and military installations as they prepare to face potential threats closer to the country. U.S. officials have previously confirmed drone strikes on facilities — including Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia and Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. Although these incidents have not been publicly attributed to China.

The warning about an upcoming battle on American soil comes amid the military's battle mode. The new operational framework places greater emphasis on preparing U.S. forces to deploy, communicate, and sustain operations even when military bases, supply lines, and communications networks are attacked.

The directive places greater emphasis on the military's ability to deploy and sustain forces under threat, including when communications, supply lines and military infrastructure are disrupted.

After Rubio's drone warning, the commander-in-chief revealed that US military bases are "ill-equipped" to stop drone swarms.

The Army is using the framework to set clearer priorities for how its organizations train, fight and incorporate new technology, LaNeve said.

The changes are being led by an Army leadership team serving in acting capacities following the departures of former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. LaNeve continues to be the Senate's confirmed vice president

, LaNeve explained how the military prepares to continue fighting even when an enemy disrupts military communications.

"I think what you're seeing inside that command and control capability is that you can operate untethered and reconnect if you have that capability, but still be able to maneuver," he said.

The military is also reviewing how it protects military installations inside the country. LaNeve pointed to Joint Task Force 401, which works with federal and local law enforcement to strengthen anti-drone defenses around military bases and critical infrastructure.

Experts warn that cartels use drones to identify border agents and map smuggling routes.

Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle pointed to the southern border as an example of how troops are dealing with drone threats closer to home. Soldiers will use the mission to test new anti-drone technology against real-world threats, he said, and gain experience they can take back to their units as the Army prepares for future conflicts.

The military is also expanding its preparedness for biological threats that could disrupt military operations. Officials announced this week that biological incidents will be included in routine combat training as part of a broader effort to ensure soldiers can continue to carry out their missions through disease outbreaks or deliberate biological attacks.

On Wednesday, Air Force Secretary Troy Meinke warned during a separate panel that advances in surveillance technologies could soon make it difficult for military forces to operate anywhere without detection.

"We're rapidly moving to a point in time where depending on your signature, how fast you're moving, the adversary will know where you are regardless of where you are on the planet," Maink said.

He suggested that level of surveillance could emerge within five years, possibly sooner, as China and other adversaries expand their ability to track and target military assets.

Mink said the Pentagon is working to make its forces more survivable, including through autonomous systems capable of operating in dangerous environments where commanders might be hesitant to send manned platforms.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, along with Meink and other service secretaries, criticized what he described as the Pentagon's failure to keep pace with technological advances under the Biden administration.

"In hypersonics, they napped. In space, they napped. In space weaponization, they napped. In drones, they napped," Heggett said.

LaNeve emphasized that despite the military's increasing reliance on advanced technology, soldiers must still be able to carry out their missions when those systems are unavailable.

The technology is intended to make troops more capable, he said, but soldiers will have to hold on to the basic skills needed to fight without it.

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