THE BIG T
required documentation. In support of this objective, the working group collab- orated on a master schedule to identify the various dependencies to track and link urgent materiel release activities to Mile- stone C documentation.
All working group members have respon- sibilities in the rapid prototyping program. Intimate familiarity with the program enables the team to identify opportuni- ties for tailoring that are not specified in any regulation or policy. Subject matter understanding helps the product office to tailor documents to transition to a follow- up major-capability acquisition program. Data from prototype radar testing is key to the development of Milestone C documents. Te strategy is informed by firsthand knowledge of the process for testing prototype capability and collecting
Production, fielding and sustainment of a modern radar must not be delayed.
data. Accurate predictions of when docu- mentation is mature helps members of the Milestone C team to tailor docu- mentation.
A RAND report on tailoring the acqui- sition process identified that omitting or reducing documents is possible but faces institutional resistance, and that stake- holder agreement is necessary to tailor documents. Te product office identifies
and contacts document stakeholders for concurrence before staffing, thereby addressing the challenges identified in the RAND report. A best practice is to report tailoring candidates in the acquisition strategy report for review by the milestone reviewer. If the milestone reviewer agrees with the acquisition strategy to tailor the specified documents, then it provides top cover for the product office as the tailor- ing strategy is socialized to stakeholders.
RAPID PROTOTYPING INFORMS REQUIREMENT Successful entrance into Milestone C will depend on prototyping activities. The activities include developmental testing and evaluation, road mobility, environmental testing and even an operational test of the radar to determine if its performance fulfills the requirements. Te performance is then analyzed and documented to support the transition to Milestone C. Te production and testing of the radar prototypes will provide critical data to support the Milestone C decision and transition into a major-capability acquisition program.
NIGHT FLIGHT
A flight test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense weapon system in March. The test integrated with and fired two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhanced interceptors. The mid-tier acquisition pathway helped rapidly develop prototype sensors. (Photo by Missile Defense Agency)
In the transition plan, the prototypes act as a proof of principle with the expec- tation that they will provide a residual operating capability after an operational assessment is complete. In a standard acquisition pathway, requirements are well defined by the time prototypes are produced. With newer technology, it is difficult to predict system capabilities. Te
80 Army AL&T Magazine Summer 2022
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
