$
high level of attrition after exposure to the harsh Afghanistan terrain. At a price of more than $25,000 per payload, we anticipate that a replacement payload can be procured that is better, more resilient and more affordable. Te acquisition of the second-generation gimbal payload would replace payloads on approximately 20 percent of the Raven fleet.
Several IDIQ participants responded to this needs request, and one was selected to conduct operational testing at Dug- way Proving Ground, UT. In a matter of months, we should see approximately 700 of
these payloads supplementing
300 first-generation gimbal payloads and replacing non-repairable retrograde pay- loads. Again, similar to replacing some of an office’s laptops, PdM SUAS will phase in the newer payload technology to the existing fleet. Tis effort alone is expected to save the government $20 million to $40 million by reducing the procurement cost for replacement payloads.
ISSUES AND ANSWERS With reasonable caution, the PdM SUAS has also identified several potential issues that may hinder the full application of this strategy. First, some in the business community may balk at the suggestion that the industrial base will be made stronger by limiting competition to a handful of companies under an IDIQ umbrella. Tey may see this approach as ultimately detrimental to both smaller innovators and the industrial base as a whole. Second, some may argue that the current proposal does not suffi- ciently address the traditional danger of “requirements creep.”
As we comply with BBP 2.0, we think many of these concerns will be addressed. For example, a five-company base, established through full and open competition with the flexibility for the
PREPARED FOR SERVICE
The Puma played a key role in the successful surge effort during the latter part of Operation Enduring Freedom, providing an eye in the sky on possible threats to Soldiers. Here, an SUAS inventory control point worker conducts final inventory on a Puma SUAS bound for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Puma is fielded to both conventional and special operation forces in support of route clearance and other combat operations. (Photo by Stephanie Johnson, PM UAS)
companies to partner with their choice of hardware providers, is certainly better than a single source. Furthermore, this approach encourages small innovators to team up with the IDIQ core product suppliers, resulting in an exceptionally wide pool of potential sources to meet our needs.
Te requirements community has also become more agile as it looks to multiple materiel developers to address capabil- ity needs. Looking beyond its historic association with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, PdM SUAS is form- ing relationships with other requirements developers for whom our products offer a viable solution. Tis approach is bearing fruit as PdM SUAS seeks to support the U.S. Army Signal Center of Excellence in its Aerial Layer Network Transport (ALNT) program. In this particular case,
the SUAS Capability Production Docu- ment (CPD) contains language that nests perfectly with ALNT’s lower-level com- munication requirements.
CONCLUSION Approval of the SUAS CPD is expected this fall. With this in hand, PdM SUAS will complete its assessment of 1/6 DRS. Based on data gathered during this phase (e.g., per-unit cost, increased reliability and increased capability), the product office will seek approval to expand the concept to other pressing requirements, allowing us
to take full advantage of technology not yet matured.
Tis would include efforts to develop a Soldier Radio Waveform payload that supports
the ALNT squad lower-tier
communications architecture; a solar- powered UAS; a Universal Ground
ASC.ARMY.MIL 131
BBP 2.0
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