SOLID CORNERSTONE


DEVELOPED TO GO LONG


Among the components of the XM1128 is propellant grain, which reduces drag and allows the projectile to travel longer distances. Before issuing the Cornerstone OTA, the industrial base lacked the capacity to load, assemble and pack projectiles with that feature. (Graphic courtesy of the authors)


Cornerstone OTA was an opportunity to accelerate achievement of a critical objective within an acquisition system that is often beset by procedural headwinds.


PM CAS’ integrated product team, which included stakeholders from PM CAS, ACC-RI and CBC, proactively initi- ated meetings to understand the process and documentation requirements for the Cornerstone OTA. Te team kept commu- nication lines open throughout the OTA award process, whether it was PM CAS asking questions regarding the Corner- stone OTA process or ACC-RI requesting information from PM CAS on the tech- nical requirements for the XM1128 load, assemble and pack effort.


All integrated product team members worked toward a common goal and held each other accountable by profession- ally closing out action items within the planned timelines, which culminated in an accelerated award of the load, assemble and pack for the new prototyped XM1128 projectile.


Te OTA was awarded July 31 to Amer- ican Ordnance LLC, located at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant. Te work will help strengthen the industrial base as this projectile will include propellant grains, which provide drag reduction to achieve the extended ranges for the XM1128. Currently, no capability exists in the


92


industrial base to perform load, assembly and packing of a 155 mm artillery projec- tile with propellant grains.


With the help of the Cornerstone OTA team and the communications it had with PM CAS, PM CAS’s initiative for the XM1128 load, assemble and pack was Picatinny Arsenal’s first award under the Cornerstone OTA and took only 75 busi- ness days—from late March through the end of July 2019. Tat time compression helped to give impetus to the eventual goal of providing an extended-range projectile.


CONCLUSION Compared to the FAR process, the Cornerstone OTA is flexible, facilitated a shorter acquisition time to award the contract for XM1128 loading, assembly and packing, and enabled industrial base development.


With the successful use of the Corner- stone OTA for the XM1128 effort, PM CAS plans to use it to improve both artil- lery and mortar industrial base capabilities.


Industrial base capabilities are more than setting up factories and production lines.


Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2020


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