MODERNIZING PARTNERSHIPS
Recent win: Te Rapid Acquisition Prototyping Project Office and the RCCTO recently awarded an other-transaction author- ity prototype agreement for hybrid electric drives in an Army combat vehicle. Te effort from contract award to delivery is expected to take 24 months. Te Bradley is being used because of the size of the engine, which is smaller than other tracked vehicles and can then scale up to be applied to other platforms, including future vehicles. Tere are multiple benefits to [hybrid electric drives], including fuel reduction, increased automotive performance, increased survivability (by reducing the thermal and acoustic signature of the vehicle), better acceleration capa- bility and improved lethality. We see a lot of potential to benefit other Army platforms in the future.
What’s next: We will continue working closely with the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems to integrate the hybrid electric system into two Bradley A2s. Once the prototyp- ing effort is over and the two Bradley hybrid electric vehicles are complete, we will conduct government acceptance testing prior to handing it off to the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems.
ROB MONTO, ADVANCED CONCEPTS & EXPERIMENTATION PROJECT OFFICE
Within the RCCTO is a dedicated cell called the Advanced Concepts & Experimentation (ACE) Project Office. Its mission is to rapidly develop, test and transition advanced technologies to address high- priority items identified by Army leaders. Serving as a quick reaction cell for rigorous research and analysis, prototyping and assessment, ACE acts as a portal to national experts, academia, industry and startups.
Monto: We’re the Swiss Army knife of the organization. ACE is the closest thing to the science and technology part of the RCCTO, covering a wide spectrum of topics. We consider all concepts and ideas and provide information so senior leaders can make better informed decisions on emerging technology. We do that multiple different ways: by hosting innovation days, working
We strive to develop rapid prototypes, enabling Soldiers to assess the items before we decide to invest in large quantities or develop formal requirements.
with the science and technology community, and engaging with academia. Our mission is to look for innovation and find ways to introduce innovation into the Army.
Lessons learned: Industry sees us as a conduit to getting good ideas in front of Army leadership. And that’s a good thing. But in working with companies—many of which are not traditional defense contractors—we have to be careful to communicate each step of the process because it is not traditional acquisition. What we do is not cookie-cutter, so we are careful to say, “Tis is how we think it will work.”
Recent wins: We held two innovation day events—one in September 2019 and one in February 2020. Te intent of innova- tion days is to allow companies to rapidly pitch new technologies and ideas that reduce near- and mid-term operational risks against near-peer adversaries. If selected by a board of Army leaders, the companies presenting these ideas could be awarded a contract to develop a prototype and potentially deliver an operational capability to the Army. Out of those events, we had almost 900 submissions and close to 80 were pitched to Army leaders and decision-makers. From those, 21 are in the process of moving forward either in concept refinement or for a possible contract award and two are already on contract to produce a rapid proto- type. Te technologies we selected are all on a one- to three-year timeframe for delivering prototypes to Soldiers.
DECEMBER 2018
Secretary of the Army signs new charter reestablishing the office as the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) with a focus on hypersonic, directed energy and space.
APRIL 2019
Lt. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood receives his third star and assumes duties as the director of hypersonic, directed energy, space and rapid acquisition, which includes the RCCTO.
18
Army AL&T Magazine
Fall 2020
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