Marginal Success. The DoD Inspector General Says the Afghan Command, Control and Coordination System is a “work in progress.” The Afghan C2 system is “marginally sufficient,” said the report from the DoDIG Special Plans and Operations (DODIG 2013-058
). Challenges remain, among them: the system does not have the ability to plan and conduct sustained operations without U.S. and Coalition support. “The effort to develop the ANA C2 system by U.S. and Coalition advisors has been marginally successful. While the ANA Command, Control, and Coordination System in place had gained capability over the past several years, the system remained fragile and needed significant Coalition support to ensure successful development of an independent, sustainable C2 capacity in the foreseeable future,” the report says. Further comment and information is due by April 22.
Added Protection. Navistar Defense is working an aggressive timeline on survivability upgrade kits for MaxxPro MRAPS. The first kits were due in December, but the company delivered initial kits before Thanksgiving. Anecdotal evidence said two MaxxPro vehicles with the survivability upgrade kits hit IEDs, and all 14 people survived with “scratches at most.” The Army ordered the upgrade kits to respond to evolving threats in Afghanistan.
Need The Sun. Iris Technology Corp. wins a $7.8 million order under a previously awarded contract from Marine Corps Systems Command. The order for 1,563 Solar Power Adapters-Generation II (SPA II) will support the program manager, Expeditionary Power Systems. “We have made major technological advancements in solar harvesting, battery charging, and power management in this next generation StarPower controller,” says Iris Technology Chief Technology Officer Carl Kirkconnell. “Marines will be able to carry fewer batteries for the same missions, increasing their mobility, effectiveness, and ultimately keeping them safer in the fight.”