We find ourselves at an inflection point for Army sustainment. The character of war is changing at a pace we have not seen in generations, driven by rapid technological advancement, contested logistics, and the sheer velocity of modern operations. In this environment, maintenance is no longer a back-end function; it is a warfighting capability that directly shapes a commander’s freedom of action. To maintain our decisive advantage, we must modernize how we maintain the force, leveraging data, automation, and the full strength of our industrial base to deliver readiness at the speed of war.
For years, we have emphasized the need to transform into a data-centric sustainment enterprise. Today, that transformation is no longer aspirational; it is operational. Predictive maintenance, forward repair capabilities, and tele-maintenance support are converging to create a fundamentally different sustainment ecosystem that represents the future of maintenance in a contested, data-driven fight.
Today, we can harness sensor data, advanced analytics, and machine learning to anticipate failures before they occur. This is not just efficiency; it is operational advantage. Across the force, we are fielding applications that give maintainers and commanders unprecedented visibility into equipment health. These tools allow us to identify trends, isolate systemic issues, and prioritize resources with precision. When paired with enterprise platforms like Weapon System 360, predictive maintenance becomes a strategic capability, enabling us to see readiness risks across the entire Army.
We are also expanding forward repair capabilities that push organic industrial base (OIB) expertise closer to the tactical edge through initiatives like the Operational Readiness Program, a pilot that proactively embeds maintenance teams from the OIB directly with tactical units preparing for deployment. The artisans provide on-site expertise, facilitate targeted fleet vehicle exchange, and train unit maintainers to keep equipment running reliably and through the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning. This is forward repair in action. To ensure this continued capability at the tactical edge, we must prioritize the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing capabilities at every echelon.
In a future fight, distance cannot be a barrier to expertise. Tele-maintenance is transforming how we deliver technical assistance across the globe. AI-enabled troubleshooting tools are already providing 24/7 support to Soldiers, reducing reliance on in-person assistance and accelerating repair timelines. When paired with secure tele-maintenance platforms, our experts can support multiple units simultaneously. This is how we scale expertise across the force and ensure that even in the most austere environments, Soldiers have access to the knowledge they need to keep equipment in the fight.
Transforming sustainment requires continuous investment, strong partnerships with industry and academia, and a relentless focus on empowering Soldiers with intuitive, data-enabled tools. Maintenance modernization is not about technology for its own sake. It is about ensuring that our formations have the readiness, resilience, and endurance to fight and win in a contested world. It is about giving commanders the confidence that their equipment will perform when it matters most. And ultimately, it is about delivering combat power to the point of need — anytime, anywhere.
The Army sustainment enterprise is leading this transformation. Together, we will build a maintenance system that is predictive, precise, and prepared for the demands of the future fight.
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LTG Chris Mohan currently serves as the commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command. He was commissioned into the Army from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, where he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate. His military education includes the Ordnance Officer Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, the Naval College of Command and Staff, and the Army War College. He holds a Master of Science degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and a Master of Science degree in military strategy from the Army War College.
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This article was published in the winter 2026 issue of Army Sustainment.
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