CHANGING THE ACQUISITION PARADIGM
The precision-guided munitions today give combatant commanders more options in battle; the M855A1 continues to garner tremendous feedback from Sol- diers in combat.
Most important, we have worked with our industry partners to design, build, and deliver these products and systems. Indus- try feedback remains very important.
Further, we are developing critically important new communication technolo- gies, such as the software-programmable JTRS, Warfighter Information Network- Tactical, a mobile SATCOM network, and Joint Battle Command-Platform, an improved force-tracking technology. The Army’s network is our most important program, and the reason that we’re focus- ing tremendous energy and resources into perfecting the network at White Sands Missile Range, NM.
Other acquisition successes include the Army’s fielding of a new MultiCam com- bat uniform for Soldiers to help them blend into the surrounding Afghan ter- rain when they stop moving. Also, the Army has implemented major moderniza- tion of its aircraft, including the Apache Block III next-generation attack helicop- ter, Chinook “F” model cargo helicopter, and the Black Hawk “M” utility chopper. More than 500 aircraft are flying down- range at historically high readiness rates.
AGILITY MEETS INNOVATION At the same time, the Army is conducting an ongoing series of Network Integration Evaluations, a strategy that seeks to cre- ate a more agile acquisition process and to capitalize upon innovative talents within the Army and its industry partners, and so blend formal programs of record with promising commercially available tech- nologies that can bring new capability to the force.
144 Army AL&T Magazine
TESTING TECHNOLOGIES The NIE is designed to ensure that the Army’s network employs the most advanced technologies available and that they are tested in realistic scenarios before being issued to Soldiers downrange. Here, a 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division Soldier demonstrates Warfighter Information Network- Tactical Increment 2 and Mission Command on-the-move applications during NIE 12.1 at White Sands Missile Range, in November 2011. (Photo by Katie Cain, System of Systems Integration Directorate Public Affairs.)
The NIE is designed to connect a host of technologies, systems, and sensors to one another through a tactical battlefield net- work. For instance, during the first NIE in June and July 2011, technologies such as the anti-personnel Spider munitions system were networked across the force using radio technology.
Future increments of the system will incor- porate anti-vehicle and anti-tank munitions capability. With this next step, the plan is to leverage software-programmable radio technology called Handheld Manpack Small Form Factor JTRS. The idea is to allow dismounted units evaluating the Spider to share key information across the force in real time and to ensure that there is always a “man in the loop” when it comes to activating or deactivating the munitions capability that is central to the system. In this scenario, the information from the munition field where a Spider is
emplaced can be transmitted seamlessly to the Army’s Battle Command System.
The NIE is key to ensuring that the Army keeps up with technology and can lever- age the latest in commercial technological innovation where appropriate. PEOs and PMs are critical to the NIE success!
CONCLUSION Overall, through initiatives like the ongo- ing NIE process and numerous planned Industry Days for many of our major pro- grams, we hope to work hand in hand with our industry partners, challenging them at times to help us refine requirements and lower costs—all the while working as a unified team to provide our Soldiers with the best technologies available.
Thank you for what you do every day for our Soldiers, our Army, and our Nation— you are making a difference!
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