Defense Technology International - May 2008 - (Page 24)

UPDATE MAJOR PROGRAMS BETTINA H. CHAVANNE FCS INTEGRATION GOES ON-THE-FLY Despite the setbacks, delays and onand-off funding issues that have hampered the program—and as it continues to eat up wartime budget dollars—the U.S. Army certainly isn’t shy about incorporating Future Combat Systems technologies into its new platforms, whether the components are ready or not. At the recent Army Aviation Assn. of America convention, Army Col. Derek Paquette, Apache program manager, achieved connections with FCS systems using soldier-radio waveform. “We’re demonstrating connectivity between the FCS gMAV unmanned system and the soldier-radio waveform, and we’re demonstrating connectivity with manned and unmanned sensors through the tactical-control data link.” (See related story, p. 32.) Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody later extolled the beneﬁts of linking U.S. AIR FORCE Technology upgrades will make the Apache attack helicopter the only aircraft able to transmit data to FCS and legacy waveforms. held a brieﬁng for the Block III Apache attack helicopter technologies currently in development, which the Army says it will be able to ﬁeld by 2011. Much of the brieﬁng focused on the technologies that will make the helicopter FCS-compatible. It will be, he said, “the only aircraft” able to fully link up with FCS, as well as being able to communicate and pass data to all other legacy waveforms. The Apache has responded well to the Block III mission processor and Soscoe, a program that allows FCS technologies to form a network, Paquette said. Al Winn, vice president of Apache programs at Boeing, said tests have 24 new technologies to the FCS program. When he took the podium, Cody said the General Atomics-built Sky Warrior UAV will come with a FCS-enabled Win-T package, “so we don’t have to shoot up to a satellite to pass data and information throughout the battlefield.” His comments made it obvious that ready or not, the Army is beginning to count on FCS in a big way. On Capitol Hill, however, FCS is not ﬁnding smooth sailing. In early April, the much-debated program faced yet another hearing, this one with representatives from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) joining top Army generals before the House Armed Services Committee’s Air/Land Subcommittee to hash out where the program stands. The testimony focused on 2009 as being a critical year for the program, jumping off from a March GAO report addressing the deﬁnition, development and demonstration of FCS capabilities. With investment mounting, “I see [Congress] as having about two years of oversight leverage,” Paul Francis, GAO’s director of acquisition and sourcing management, said. “The key point would be 2009 for a go/no-go decision.” There are several items Congress should consider, Francis said. “Can FCS work as planned? If there are questions remaining, we need to look at alternatives.” If FCS shows it will work, Francis added, “We have to take a serious look at remaining development.” Only about 40% of total funding will be left by 2009, but the most expensive part of program development still remains. “People estimate it will take about $1213 billion more.” Janet St. Laurent, GAO managing director for defense capabilities and management, took a more broad-based look at Army programs, concluding that restructuring and rebuilding will cost billions, although how many billions is unclear. “It appears the Army’s plans to equip modular units, expand the force, reset equipment and replace pre-positioned equipment are likely to cost at least $190 billion through Fiscal 2013,” St. Laurent said. But there are factors that make that ﬁgure less than precise, including the fact that the cumulative effects operations in Afghanistan and Iraq will have on equipment is unknown. “In light of the potential magnitude of these initiatives, unless the Defense Dept. carefully monitors projected costs,” she said, “it will be difficult to consider tradeoffs and allocate funding to balance the Army’s near-term equipment needs and long-term transformation initiatives.” These pessimistic comments come on the heels of another recent GAO report—its sixth annual “Assessments of Selected Weapons Programs” paper—which rates the progress and cost of various major weapons programs. The GAO found that only two of 44 FCS technologies are “fully mature” and 30 are “nearing full maturity.” ■ —With Paul McLeary in New York. AviationWeek.com/dti DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL MAY 2008 http://AviationWeek.com/dti

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Defense Technology International - May 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Learn and Live Think Again Vive la Difference En Route Out of the Box Package Deal On Watch Inside Job Programs Update The Net Back to the Future Busy Signal Mighty Mites Hull of an Idea Tough Enough Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - May 2008

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