ARMY AL&T


continuing the development of tactics, techniques, and procedures for hard- ware and network capabilities; and continuing to add to the reliability, availability, and maintainability test hours to support directed Increment 1 confidence levels.


The iterative “test-fix-test” strategy has allowed the program to continuously mature hardware models and software as it progresses through the develop- ment process, while leveraging valuable feedback from U.S. Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF) Soldiers to continue improving the systems. “By utilizing an integrate-test-fix strategy, the Army is not only addressing incident reports and enhancing capability; it is ensuring that fixes are made before the Soldier is issued the equipment in the field. So far, we’ve seen encouraging results in the 2010 test cycle,” Wendel said.


In June 2010, the program conducted a series of high-tech network and equip- ment verification evaluations called technical tests. Data gathered from these tests will factor into network and product development improve- ments as the Army moves toward the final stages of evaluation. In September, Soldiers of the AETF completed a full-scale military exercise to test and evaluate Increment 1 during the Force Development Test and Experimentation and the limited user test (LUT). The LUT is a Soldier-driven independent review of maturity, readiness, and func- tionality. A successful LUT will pave the way for additional low-rate production of Increment 1 equipment after a Defense Acquisition Board review, which is scheduled for December 2010.


The 2010 Increment 1 testing focuses on network enhancements and hard- ware fixes to increase connectivity between Soldiers, ultimately provid- ing increased intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as increased survivability and lethality. Many of the reliability, maintainability,


5 OCTOBER –DECEMBER 2010


and durability issues identified during the 2009 LUT have been addressed, and the testing and evaluation methods have been updated. By LUT 2010, the Army is expected to have rectified all of the fixes identified the previous year.


This year’s testing also incorporates enhanced data collection methods, production representative equipment, and improved and expanded opera- tionally relevant test ranges. “The tests continue to grow in complexity and density,” Wendel explained. “Our systems are covering vastly expand- ed terrain as a result of significantly enhanced range performance of the Joint Tactical Radio Systems Ground Mobile Radios.”


Additional evaluations are also taking place using Increment 1 capabilities to provide the backbone of the BCT network. In July 2010, the Army con- ducted a BCT Network Integration Exercise at White Sands Missile Range, NM. It was designed to help the Army formulate its tactical network strategy by seeking to prove the concept of an integrated tactical network available to Soldiers at all echelons of the BCT. Additionally, the exercise leveraged the Army’s development of the NIK, as well as past integration initiatives to illustrate the ability to connect the Soldier to the company and, through the Warfighter Information Network- Tactical and Command Post of the Future, to the battalion and brigade network architectures.


Although the exercise was not a formal test, it was the first time the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps was able to bring all tactical network pieces together in an integrated fashion in an operationally relevant environment. Army leadership will use data from the exercise as a baseline for how the Army envisions communicating on the battlefield throughout the next 7 years and for the shape of the mature network in 2017.


Future Steps LRIP for Increment 1 is underway, with one brigade combat set of equip- ment being produced and readied to support the initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) in 2011. The 3rd IBCT, 1st Armored Division (AD) will be the first Army BCT to receive the Increment 1 networked systems, start- ing in 2011. Using the Increment 1 equipment, the 3-1 AD will conduct the IOT&E in late FY11 to provide a valid assessment of system operational effectiveness and suitability, which will inform the decision to move to full-rate production of the capabilities.


Already, leaders of the 3rd IBCT are familiarizing themselves with the key capabilities that Increment 1 of Capability Package 11-12 will provide. “There’s a very sophisticated digital network that will be fielded to this bri- gade, and it will represent the first time that the Army has fielded an integrated, digital network to an operational unit,” said COL Chris Cavoli, Commander of the 3-1 AD, during recent field tests. “This is a pretty powerful responsibility for [the IBCT], and it’s probably going to change a number of ways that we do business. It is going to be the job of this brigade to figure out how we are going to use this in a fight.”


PAUL D. MEHNEY is the Chief of Public Communications for PEO Integration. His previous assignments include Associate Director of Public Communications for Program Manager FCS and public communications lead for the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development, and Engineer- ing Center. He holds a B.A. in history from Michigan State University.


KATHRYN CAIN is a media rela- tions specialist for PEO Integration. She holds a B.A.A. in integrative public relations, with a concentration in political science, from Central Michigan University.


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