SOLVING THE RETROGRADE RIDDLE


FIGURE 1


Te two IDIQ contracts provide PdM SUAS flexibility to replace a portion of


the Raven and Puma fleets, or sub-


components of these fleets, as they are diminished by attrition or become tech- nologically obsolete. In the same way a typical modern office supply of laptops undergoes partial disposal (i.e., 30 percent of laptops replaced each year with faster versions), SUAS hopes eventually to apply a similar approach to fleet management.


A MEASURED APPROACH In an effort that reflects BBP acquisition techniques applied to the software and communications sectors, PdM SUAS is investigating a strategy whereby the Army would replace approximately one-sixth of the SUAS fleet each year. This strategy is essentially a compressed incremental acqui- sition process that takes advantage of the most current products that industry offers. (SOURCE: Bill Stem, Wyle CAS Group, for PM UAS)


FINDING ECONOMIES Te IDIQ services contract provides the muscle at the SUAS inventory control point to identify depot-level repairs upon retrograde. Having gathered the appro- priate attrition data, PdM SUAS can use the IDIQ products contract to solicit sources sought to solve a specific problem or need.


In this scenario, we would expect one or two hardware components to bubble to the top of the priority list. In the Raven and Puma realm, the highest attrition rates are typically in payloads (i.e., UAS cameras) and batteries, but the concept is flexible enough to apply to potentially any component, including software and technical architecture. Taking advantage of economies of scale combined with increased competition, we can anticipate the programmed replacement of a por- tion (i.e., 20 percent) of the SUAS fleet, providing cutting-edge equipment to the warfighter much earlier than with traditional acquisition models and at a reduced cost. Experience early in the implementation of


the IDIQ contracts supports this prediction. FLEXIBLE CAPABILITY


The modular nature of the Raven, Puma and future SUAS demands an innovative, modular ap- proach to retrograde operations and, ultimately, acquisition methods. Here, an RQ-11B Raven UAS flies over Castles Drop Zone, Fort Pickett, VA, Aug. 16. The Raven can be remotely controlled from a ground station or fly programmed missions using GPS waypoint navigation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by TSgt Matt Hecht)


In recent months, limited developmental testing by the product office has demon- strated that this concept works. For the typical camera payload, with its sophis- ticated gimbal mechanism and sharp imagery, we have observed a relatively


130 Army AL&T Magazine


October–December 2013


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  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196