(Radio Iowa) – Iowa National Guard Major General Stephen Osborn says that over the next decade the U-S military will undergo one of the most significant periods of modernization in its history.

Osborn says commanders will be able to act faster with the combined use of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and space assets. Osborn says units will be designed to deploy faster and sustain themselves in what he called “contested environments.”

The Iowa Air Guard’s 132nd Wing is already part of the military’s cyber defense mission. A bill congress recently passed authorizes the 220 MILLION dollar project to replace the Sioux City runway for the planes airmen from 185th Refueling Wing are flying and Osborn says the final step will be to see that funding is included in the military’s budget. Osborn points to other federally-funded infrastructure projects around the state that are part of the military’s transformation, including a 14-million dollar, federally-funded equipment maintenance facility that will be built in Waterloo.

Osborn made his remarks during the annual “Condition of the Guard” address to lawmakers.