{"id":54364,"date":"2022-01-14T18:44:11","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T18:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/14\/a-yearlong-continuing-resolution-will-hinder-unmanned-systems-integration\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:01:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:01:20","slug":"a-yearlong-continuing-resolution-will-hinder-unmanned-systems-integration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2022\/01\/14\/a-yearlong-continuing-resolution-will-hinder-unmanned-systems-integration\/","title":{"rendered":"A yearlong continuing resolution will hinder unmanned systems integration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With fiscal 2022 well underway and the current continuing resolution<\/a> set to expire without congressional consensus on a way forward on appropriations, the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing for the possibility of operations under a full-year CR stopgap measure<\/a>. Let\u2019s be clear: That will hinder the continued integration of unmanned systems into the U.S. military and ultimately harm our preparedness for strategic competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a hearing this week of the House Appropriations Committee\u2019s Defense Subcommittee, appropriators rightly acknowledged that a full-year CR would make our military less agile and curtail our ability to prepare for current security challenges. Members of Congress must also realize that failure to pass funding bills will create a domino effect that will harm U.S. national security for years to come by damaging the growing unmanned systems industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Pentagon moves resources and dollars to address this new era of strategic competition, unmanned systems \u2014 in the air, in space, in the sea and on land \u2014 will be the tip of the sword for our sailors, Marines, soldiers and airmen against rising geopolitical threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Launched last year, the Navy\u2019s Unmanned Campaign Plan and related task force<\/a> are two examples that demonstrate the extent to which DoD leaders understand the unparalleled value uncrewed systems will provide in achieving the vision presented in the National Defense Strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the new normal of cycles of CRs results in real-dollar budget reductions and program delays that threaten the progress of this\u202fvision \u2014 and these losses harm both U.S. strategic competitiveness and the defense-industrial base. As Adm. Mike Gilday stated during the House Appropriations Committee hearing: \u201cEvery day matters in this critical decade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t