Army Leaders Promote Need for Offensive Cyber Capability

The Army needs to develop offensive cyber capabilities it can wield in battle the same way it uses artillery or air power, top service commanders explained at the Association of the United States Army annual conference.

Lt. Gen. Rhett Hernandez, commander of Army Cyberspace Command at Fort Meade (MD), said cyber threats against Army networks today are “real, growing, sophisticated and evolving . . . they are changing the way we operate.” The threats require sophisticated defensive systems to detect and deter attackers. But the Army also must have the ability to “conduct cyber offensive operations when directed,” he said, adding that the ability to conduct cyberattacks should be integrated with traditional joint fires capabilities such as artillery.