Ukraine’s audacious drone strike against Russia’s strategic bomber force on Sunday was a “stark illustration of modern warfare” that the U.S. military needs to pay close attention to and learn from, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll told lawmakers Wednesday.

Using an inexpensive swarm of about 100 drones — the attack likely cost “a mere tens of thousands of dollars,” Mr. Driscoll said — Kyiv caused billions in damages and potentially set back Moscow’s bomber capabilities for years.

Mr. Driscoll’s assessment came on Wednesday during testimony to the House Armed Services Committee.

“The world saw, in near real time, how readily available technology can disrupt established power dynamics,” he said. “Drones are but one example of a broader shift. The Army needs to keep pace.”

Sitting alongside Gen. Randy George, the Army chief of staff, Mr. Driscoll testified that he has sought answers to the Army’s sluggish pace of institutional change since assuming the service’s top job three months ago.

“Our soldiers are not the problem. I’ve met with them in the Middle East, Europe, along our southern border, and at installations across the United States. Their strength, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the nation are inspiring,” he said.

The problem also isn’t with civilian industry. The nation’s tech sector continues to thrive, driven by innovation, entrepreneurship and a willingness to embrace risks, Mr. Driscoll said.

“I have found that the Army has been calcified, having suffered from years of inefficiency, slow-moving processes and wasteful spending,” he said. “Program lobbyists and bureaucrats have overtaken the Army’s ability to prioritize soldiers and warfighters.”

Mr. Driscoll told lawmakers that the Army Transformation Initiative — a sweeping reorganization of the service the two men announced on May 1 — is the answer. It will “make us an Army that is lean, agile and relentlessly-focused on empowering its soldiers,” he said.

The Army plans to cancel programs that are obsolete and consolidate redundant headquarters. At least 1,.000 troops from the Army staff will be returned to field units under the current plan.

“We are pushing soldiers back out to the formations. We’re looking at what assets we have and what we’re buying,” Mr. Driscoll said. “We’re learning as we go.”

Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the GOP chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he shares the goal of developing a more modern, agile and well-equipped U.S. Army. 

He praised plans to optimize force structure and eliminate waste and obsolete programs.

“But we need to see your homework. An overhaul this significant should be based on a thorough assessment of requirements.” he told the two Army leaders. “It should include a detailed blueprint of the specific changes being proposed and how the Army plans to implement them.”

Mr. Rogers said he also wanted to see a timeline for implementing the ATI. He encouraged them to follow the example of the Marine Corps with its Force Design 2030 model.

“We want to make sure this overhaul is being driven by battlefield requirements and not by artificial budget constraints,” Mr. Rogers said.

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said he generally agrees with the thrust of the argument from the Army leaders: any program that doesn’t meet requirements or isn’t suited for the battlefield must be eliminated.

“That said, the devil is in the details,” he said. “We need to understand what requirements are not being met or have changed, and then how the Army intends to develop, procure, and field capability more rapidly, and to provide maximum capability to combatant commanders.”

He noted that the Army has been willing to walk away from costly weapon systems when the circumstances change and it can no longer deliver the capability needed on the battlefield, such as the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program.

“While some of these decisions may be unpopular, I believe this is positive behavior in today’s budget environment,” Mr. Smith said.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.