GAO Outlines Risk In Emerging Tech In Review Of New Army Futures Command

The Army's new command to streamline acquisition and modernization risks cost overruns and delays if it focuses too heavily on emerging technology, according to a new Government Accountability Office report cited by the Army Times. 

The Army Futures Command has largely integrated best practices but there are concerns about its plans to develop systems using emerging technology, said the GAO report released on Wednesday. 

Technologies that are still developing will take time to fully mature and moving too fast to employ them could increase costs, delay delivery or result in less capability than desired, said the report. 

The GAO favors efforts to mature technology, including testing in operational environments, before establishing a program of record, GAO officials said.  

The watchdog also urged the Army to keep records of successes and failures and report them to the Army Center for Lessons Learned.