ARMY AL&T
This mission was assigned to the JPM LW155, who is also the life-cycle manager of the 155mm M777A2 towed howitzer. Additionally, the JPM is responsible for the Army’s 155mm M198 towed howitzer (no plans for digitization), the M111 Improved Position and Azimuth Determining System, the Gun Laying and Positioning System, and the Towed Artillery Digitization program. Recently, the JPM has been assigned to manage the “non-standard” D-30 how- itzer mission by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
The digitized M119A2 program and the commonality effort between it and the M777A2 are being executed in an evolutionary approach. The goal is to be common where possible and as quickly as possible, without adding high technical or other programmatic risk to either of the two target plat- forms. The decision document to proceed with digitizing the M119A2 required the program to maximize use of hardware already within the IBCT, where possible. To accomplish this, the dismounted 120mm mortar
The goal is to be common where possible and as quickly as
possible, without adding high technical or other programmatic risk to either of the two target platforms.
line-replaceable unit (LRU) DFCS hardware was used as a baseline, with the goal of achieving commonality with the other artillery platforms at a later date. The digitized howitzer will be Type Classified Standard as a M119A3, consisting of all digitization hardware and Block 1.1 software that provides the capabilities of basic navigation, aiming, pointing, and Joint Variable Message Format communications with the Fire Direction Center. A compre- hensive plan has been put in place to achieve the commonality goals between the future M119A3 and the M777A2 within 3 years.
Why Pursue Commonality? In addition to the DFCS allowing the M119A3 to become more survivable on the battlefield by emplacing and displacing faster and providing more
responsive fires, ensuring LRU and software commonality will have a sig- nificant payback. Commonality will result in shorter development times for new LRUs. With a common architec- ture between platforms, one platform’s development can leverage off another platform’s development, similar to what is done in software development. This will result in lower costs as well, since separate development efforts and teams would not be needed. This quicker development time is also important because of obsolescence issues with electronic components. Baseline designs are difficult, if not impossible, to repro- duce and support within a few years of first hitting the field. When artillery platforms have common LRUs, there is a huge payback from having a com- mon logistics base; sustainment costs are reduced due to fewer configurations
The DFCS capability is being integrated onto the 105mm M119A2 towed howitzer. Here, 1st Battalion, 258th FAR, New York ARNG Soldiers lift the back of an M119A2 howitzer to spin the cannon into firing position, March 8, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by SPC Ian Boudreau, 27th IBCT Public Affairs.)
22 JULY –SEPTEMBER 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96
