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31-03-10, 08:11 AM
DoD to Review U.S. Army Modernization Efforts
By KATE BRANNEN
Published: 30 Mar 2010 17:28
Senior U.S. Army officials will meet April 2 with Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter to review the service's modernization efforts and to seek approval for a revised plan for the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System.
The Defense Acquisition Board, chaired by Carter, will discuss the Army's progress in improving the reliability and maturity of the equipment being fielded as part of Increment 1 of the service's brigade combat team modernization program.
Originally developed under the Future Combat Systems program, Increment 1 includes the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS), Tactical and Urban Unattended Ground Sensors, the Class 1 Unmanned Aircraft System, the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle and the Network Integration Kit.
Earlier this month, lawmakers expressed concern that the Army was buying these items before they proved themselves during testing.
Army officials said they had found fixes for 94 percent of the problems revealed during last fall's limited user test and that they were making the changes.
A status update on the reliability of the systems will be part of the April 2 meeting, said Maj. Gen. John Bartley, program executive officer for integration.
At the review, officials will also discuss the recent test results and status of NLOS-LS, said Army spokesman Paul Mehney.
The NLOS-LS Precision Attack Missile failed four out of six times during a flight-limited user test that took place at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., between Jan. 26 and Feb. 5.
The Army is proposing to equip the first unit in the third quarter of fiscal 2013, according to a congressional source. That would be more than a year late, and would mean the NLOS-LS would arrive later than other Increment 1 gear.
"At this point, it would be premature to discuss the future of that system," said Mehney. "We need to see what comes out of the upcoming meetings."
Acquisition officials also plan to discuss the Army's network development and integration plans, including synchronization with the Joint Tactical Radio System program, said Mehney.
By KATE BRANNEN
Published: 30 Mar 2010 17:28
Senior U.S. Army officials will meet April 2 with Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter to review the service's modernization efforts and to seek approval for a revised plan for the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System.
The Defense Acquisition Board, chaired by Carter, will discuss the Army's progress in improving the reliability and maturity of the equipment being fielded as part of Increment 1 of the service's brigade combat team modernization program.
Originally developed under the Future Combat Systems program, Increment 1 includes the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS), Tactical and Urban Unattended Ground Sensors, the Class 1 Unmanned Aircraft System, the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle and the Network Integration Kit.
Earlier this month, lawmakers expressed concern that the Army was buying these items before they proved themselves during testing.
Army officials said they had found fixes for 94 percent of the problems revealed during last fall's limited user test and that they were making the changes.
A status update on the reliability of the systems will be part of the April 2 meeting, said Maj. Gen. John Bartley, program executive officer for integration.
At the review, officials will also discuss the recent test results and status of NLOS-LS, said Army spokesman Paul Mehney.
The NLOS-LS Precision Attack Missile failed four out of six times during a flight-limited user test that took place at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., between Jan. 26 and Feb. 5.
The Army is proposing to equip the first unit in the third quarter of fiscal 2013, according to a congressional source. That would be more than a year late, and would mean the NLOS-LS would arrive later than other Increment 1 gear.
"At this point, it would be premature to discuss the future of that system," said Mehney. "We need to see what comes out of the upcoming meetings."
Acquisition officials also plan to discuss the Army's network development and integration plans, including synchronization with the Joint Tactical Radio System program, said Mehney.