THE INDUSTRIAL BASE
Troughout the FMS case for M777A2 howitzers, Program Manager Towed Artil- lery Systems (PM TAS), together with multiple U.S. government agencies and organizations, worked diligently with the Indian government to ensure the acquisi- tion and fielding of the howitzers, while strengthening the partnership and shap- ing future operations. Te relationship and trust built between PM TAS and the Indian Army proved key to the follow- on effort to equip the howitzer with the Excalibur projectile.
Te second step occurred in May 2019, eight months after delivery of the first M777A2s, when the Indian government submitted a request for M982A1 Excali- bur projectiles. Over the next five months, during one of the fastest FMS cases in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s history, Program Manager Combat Ammunition Systems (PM CAS), along with representa- tives from other U.S. agencies, commands and offices, collaborated its efforts and worked directly with their Indian coun- terparts to overcome obstacles and meet India’s requested delivery date. During early discussions, PM CAS identified criti- cal associated items such as the propellant, training package and fuze setting system to enable the fastest path to qualification that were also added to the effort.
On Oct. 13, 2019, M982A1 Excalibur projectiles, along with several supplemen- tary systems, were delivered to Mumbai, India. Less than two months later, on Dec. 9, following a three-week new equipment training, Indian artillery instructors and Soldiers at the Pokhran Field firing range in India successfully employed M982A1 Excalibur projectiles with M777A2 howitzers at targets ranging from 17 to 36 kilometers, each time achieving the desired effects while impacting the intended targets with precision.
Building upon the success of these and other FMS cases, on Feb. 24, during his visit to India, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. was working with India to sign agreements for more than $3 billion in planned military sales. As with other allies and partners, through past and future FMS, the U.S. will strengthen its partnership with India, while build- ing interoperability between the two militaries.
CONCLUSION Te 2018 National Defense Strategy states, “Te willingness of rivals to abandon aggression will depend on their percep- tion of U.S. strength and the vitality of our alliances and partnerships.” Each FMS provides the acquisition community, along
with other U.S. government agencies and organizations, an opportunity to support the National Defense Strategy by strength- ening alliances, attracting new partners and increasing multinational interop- erability.
Te Defense Standardization Program, together with the requirements for test and evaluation, result in U.S. military systems and ammunition that are effective, reliable and affordable. Consequently, these tested and proven products are sought after by militaries throughout the world.
During the FMS process, the U.S. govern- ment works closely with the foreign government to accomplish a common goal and provide a materiel capabil- ity. Te FMS process results in regular engagements between both governments, as well as product modification and inte- gration. Each of these actions help support multinational interoperability and further strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships.
For more information on foreign military sales to go
https://www.dsca.mil/. For more information on Excalibur or M777 to go
https://jpeoaa.army.mil/jpeoaa/.
MAJ. SETH R. FORT is an assistant product manager with Product Manager Precision Attack Cannon Munitions, Project Manager Combat Ammunition Systems, Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition. He holds an MBA from Te College of William and Mary, and a B.A. in government and international politics, with a minor in Islamic studies, from George Mason University. He is Level II certified in program management.
https://asc.ar my.mil
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