WASHINGTON \u2014 When it comes to tactical radios, the U.S. Army is walking a tightrope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The service, currently juggling a half-dozen major modernization goals, is trying to find a balance between the communication upgrades it needs<\/a> to make in preparation for conflicts of the future, potentially against a technologically savvy enemy, and the related high costs and looming deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The calculus, officials said, means batches of older radios and communication systems will be left behind. And troops will have to acclimate to a gradually shrinking number of radios, tailored to operational needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have a small window of opportunity where we can, you know, pivot from legacy systems and programs to new ones,\u201d Army Chief Information Officer Raj Iyer told reporters in October on the sidelines of the Association of the U.S. Army annual convention<\/a>. \u201cWe have to fight for the Army we have today, and we have to transform for the Army of 2030 at the same time. I think this is the biggest challenge that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t