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Pentagon Intelligence Leaders Cite China as Pacing Threat, Urge AI, Space and ISR Investments
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Summary
Senior Defense intelligence officials told a House subcommittee that China remains the pacing threat and that the department is prioritizing artificial intelligence, commercial space-based ISR and other modern capabilities to support deterrence and homeland defense.
Senior Defense intelligence leaders told a House Armed Services subcommittee that China is the pacing threat and that the Defense Intelligence Enterprise must modernize rapidly — via artificial intelligence, commercial space-based ISR and other capabilities — to preserve decision advantage.
Dustin Gardweiss, performing the duties of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, said the enterprise is aligning its Military Intelligence Program investments to support the secretary’s priorities with an emphasis on “rebuilding our military intelligence capabilities” and ‘‘rapidly fielding emerging technologies.”
Lieutenant General Jeffrey Cruz, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, described a multifront Chinese modernization effort and the department’s response: “China and Russia are building a diverse array of delivery systems… They are developing hypersonic glide vehicles, as well as fractional orbital bombardment systems, which are ICBMs that enter a low altitude orbit before reentering to strike targets.” Cruz said DIA raised collection against China by “at least 30%” and increased analytic production by “double digits” since standing up a China mission group in 2022.
On artificial intelligence, Lieutenant General William Hartman, performing the duties of the director of the National Security Agency, said the U.S. retains an advantage through private‑sector talent and must arm that workforce with AI to “get to scale” on the China problem. “We use it every day. We use it in all of our operations,” Hartman told the panel, while acknowledging additional technical and resource needs would be detailed with the FY26 budget request.
Committee members pressed witnesses about integrating commercial space capabilities with government systems. Gardweiss replied that the department is “leveraging commercial, space based capabilities across a range of missions” and is increasing use of commercial electro‑optical and radar systems to augment national systems and support GEOINT and mapping needs.
Witnesses also discussed homeland missile‑defense initiatives. Cruz said DIA is providing assessments and sensor fusion in support of “Golden Dome for America” homeland defense planning and noted DIA’s role in future operational phases to provide collection, data fusion and sensor‑to‑shooter capabilities.
Ending: Members indicated further technical and budgetary questions will be pursued in the classified session and in subsequent committee budget hearings.
