By Ann Roosevelt
The Army’s effort to begin low-rate production to bring new capabilities to infantry brigade combat teams is laudable, but offers “significant challenges” in readiness and reliability, the Pentagon’s acquisition chief said.
In a Dec. 24 memorandum for the Secretary of the Army, Ashton Carter, Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, said he understands the risks, but is “aware of the importance of fielding integrated networked systems to current warfighters.”
Therefore, Carter approved low-rate initial production for one Increment 1 Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team (EIBCT), no more than $70 million for long-lead items for a second EIBCT and is limiting Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System (NLOS LS) procurement to $35 million, pending flight test completion.
Additionally Carter directs the Army to get all components of the program fielded as soon as possible.
“However, the Army should consider deploying distinct parts of the program early, if they are ready, or later than the rest of the components if some part is holding up the whole,” Carter wrote. “I believe this flexibility will allow the Department to best support Secretary [Robert] Gates’ direction to ‘win the wars we are in.'”
Carter also directed the Army fund the program to the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) cost estimate.
Also, the acquisition strategy, acquisition program baseline (APB) and 2010 Decision Criteria must be staffed and approved by Jan. 30, the memo said. Until Carter approves the APB, the Army must receive his approval before obligating any appropriated funds.
By Jan. 30 as well, the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation and the Army will report to Carter on a plan for conducting a comparative test of EIBCT-equipped units with units equipped as currently deployed for operations. This would be part of the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E).
Additionally, the Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy Director must receive contract details and full-rate production strategy before the LRIP contract is awarded. It is planned for this month.
Carter has put two interim Defense Acquisition Board in-process reviews on the board, in March and December.
In March, the review will examine the network maturity plan through fiscal year 2017, with a focus on the 2011 Increment 1 EIBCT network requirement, including the Army’s plan for an open scalable architecture and how the network fits in, and the network’s readiness to enter system functional verification tests with the Soldier Radio Waveform and Wideband Networking Waveform.
Reliability growth plans will be reviewed, with a reevaluation of the threshold and objective requirements for systems and elements of the program.
The NLOS-LS will be discussed, with an update on missile testing, with a comprehensive report on the results of the FY 2010 Limited User Tests.
A comprehensive precision mix cost-effectiveness analysis for the BCT also will come under review. The analysis is to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of NLOS-LS in EIBCT relevant scenarios.
During the December interim DAB, readiness for the scheduled IOT&E will be discussed as well as fielding and proceeding with the LRIP for EIBCTs two and three and the rest of the program.
Among discussions will be results of the FY’ 10 LUT, an update on network performance, Army Configuration Steering Board action for reliability requirements and recommendations on whether there is sufficient military utility from elements delivering less than required reliability for continuation in the FY’11 IOT&E, fielding and procurement for subsequent EIBCTs.
The Army must also submit monthly reports to the Overarching Integrated Product Team (OIPT) leader from March through September addressing network operational effectiveness and suitability.