Download or read book Defense Acquisitions written by United States Government Accountability Office and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-10-18 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Defense Acquisitions: The Army's Future Combat Systems' Features, Risks, and Alternatives
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions the Army s Future Combat Systems Features Risks and Alternatives written by Paul L. Francis and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-12 with total page 27 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To become a more responsive and dominant combat force, the U.S. Army is changing its strategy from bigger and stronger weapons to faster and more agile ones. The Future Combat Systems (FCS) -- which the Army calls the ¿greatest technology and integration challenge ever undertaken¿ -- is expected to meet the Army¿s transformational objectives. For FCS¿ first developmental increment, the Army has set aside a 5-1/2-year timetable from program start (May 2003) until the initial production decision (Nov. 2008). This testimony is about FCS¿ key features, whether the program carries any risks, and, if so, whether there are alternatives for developing FCS capabilities with fewer risks. Illustrations.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions written by Paul L. Francis and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 43 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Army¿s Future Combat System (FCS) requires a software-based advanced information network to meld people, sensors, and weapons into a cohesive fighting force. As software controls 95% of FCS¿s functionality, it determines the success or failure of the program. The Army contracted with the Boeing Co. as a lead systems integrator to define, develop and integrate FCS, including software development. This report addresses risks facing the development of network and software, the practices being used to manage software, and the timing of key network demonstrations. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions 2009 Review of Future Combat Systems Is Critical to Program s Direction written by Paul L. Francis and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 17 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Future Combat System (FCS) program -- which comprises 14 integrated weapon systems and an advanced info. network -- is the centerpiece of the Army¿s effort to transition to a lighter, more agile, and more capable combat force. The technical challenges, the Army¿s acquisition strategy, and the cost of the program are among the reasons why the program needs special oversight and review. This testimony is based on reports on FCS and addresses: (1) how the definition, dev¿t., and demo. of FCS capabilities are proceeding, esp. in light of the go/no-go decision scheduled for 2009; (2) the Army¿s plans for making production commitments for FCS and any risks related to the completion of dev¿t.; and (3) the est. costs for developing and producing FCS.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions written by Paul L. Francis and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 71 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Future Combat System (FCS) program -- which comprises 14 integrated weapon systems and an advanced information network -- is the centerpiece of the Army¿s effort to transition to a lighter, more agile, and more capable combat force. This report includes an examination of: (1) how the definition, development, and demonstration of FCS capabilities are proceeding, particularly in light of the go/no-go decision scheduled for 2009; (2) the Army¿s plans for making production commitments for FCS and any risks related to the completion of development; and (3) the estimated costs for developing and producing FCS. Includes recommendations. Tables and figures.
Download or read book Defense acquisitions written by Paul L. Francis and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions Future Combat Systems Challenges and Prospects for Success written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In its unprecedented complexity, the Future Combat Systems (FCS) confronts the Army with significant technical and managerial challenges in its requirements, development, finance, and management. Technical challenges include the need for FCS vehicles to be smaller, lighter, and as lethal and survivable as current vehicles, which requires a network to collect and deliver vast amounts of intelligence and communications information, and individual systems that are as complex as fighter aircraft. FCS is the core of Army efforts to create a lighter, more agile and capable force: a $108 billion investment -- enough to equip about one-third of the force, with annual funding requests running from $3 billion to $9 billion per year -- to provide a new generation of 18 manned and unmanned ground vehicles, air vehicles, sensors, and munitions linked by an information network. The program's pace and complexity also pose significant management challenges. The Army is using a Lead System Integrator to manage FCS and is using a contracting instrument -- Other Transaction Agreement -- that allows for more flexible negotiation of roles, responsibilities, and rights with the integrator. FCS is at significant risk for not delivering required capability within budgeted resources. Currently, about 9 years is allowed from development start to production decision. DoD typically needs this period of time to develop a single advanced system, yet FCS is far greater in scope. The program's level of knowledge is far below that suggested by best practices or DoD policy. Although systems development and demonstration began in May 2003, the program was restructured in July 2004, including processes to make FCS capabilities available to current forces. GAO has been asked to assess the following: (1) FCS technical and managerial challenges, (2) prospects for delivering FCS within cost and scheduled objectives, and (3) options for proceeding.
Download or read book Defense acquisitions improved business case is needed for Future Combat System s successful outcome report to congressional committees written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2006 with total page 57 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions Future Combat System Risks Underscore the Importance of Oversight written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We look at a business case as comprising those elements that are key to making an acquisition likely to result in a product that performs as required for the time and money promised. A sound business case includes firm requirements; mature technologies; an acquisition strategy that demonstrates design and production maturity; and adequate funding to cover a realistic cost estimate. When FCS was approved to begin in May 2003, it was far from having a sound business case, especially given its unprecedented size and complexity. Specifically, requirements were not well defined; technologies were very immature; the acquisition strategy was aggressive and did not allow for demonstrating design and production maturity until after the production decision; and despite the insufficient basis for good cost estimates, providing the resources at the estimated costs was a great challenge. Since then, there have been a number of improvements in the program. The schedule was doubled to allow for more demonstrations and to spin capabilities out to the current forces; requirements are better understood, even to the system level; technologies have gotten more mature; cost estimates have grown substantially, making them more realistic. Still, it is 4 years later, and progress should be expected. The Army, doing well by its own measures, is well behind business case measures. Requirements are still being defined; technologies are years away from needed maturity levels; key demonstrations of design and production will still come after the production decision; and independent cost estimates are significantly higher than the Army's.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions written by United States Government Accountability Office and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-09-13 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department of Defense (DOD)anticipates that the Future CombatSystem (FCS) will modernize theU.S. Army's ability to move, shoot,and communicate on thebattlefield. It is an impressiveconcept that is the product ofholistic, non-traditional thinking.The Army describes FCS as one ofthe most complex weaponacquisition programs ever executedbecause it involves developing andintegrating a family of 18 systemsand an information network. Armyleadership started the programearly as part of its effort to changeArmy culture and believes that theprogram risks are manageable.GAO is required by law to reviewthe program annually. In thisreport, GAO analyzes FCS'sacquisition business case andassesses requirements stability,technology maturity, soundness ofthe acquisition strategy, andreasonableness and affordability ofprogram costs.
Download or read book The Army s Future Combat Systems Program and Alternatives written by United States. Congressional Budget Office and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Army s Future Combat Systems Program and Alternatives written by and published by Government Printing Office. This book was released on 2006 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In today's environment of rapidly evolving conflicts, the Army's goal is to have units that have the combat power of heavy units but that can be transported anywhere in the world in a matter of days. To address concerns about the armored vehicle fleet's aging and the difficulties involved in transporting it as well as to equip the Army more suitably to conduct operations overseas on short notice using forces based in the United States the service created the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program in 2000. A major modernization effort, the program is designed in part to develop and purchase vehicles to replace those now in the heavy forces; the new vehicles would be much lighter, thereby easing the deployment of units equipped with them. In the analysis presented in this report, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) examined the current status of the Army's fleet of armored vehicles and assessed the speed of deployment of the service's heavy forces. It also evaluated the FCS program, considering the program's costs as well as its advantages and disadvantages and comparing it with several alternative plans for modernizing the Army's heavy forces.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions Improved Business Case Key for Future Combat System s Success written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The critical role played by U.S. ground combat forces is underscored today in Operation Iraqi Freedom. That the Army should ensure its forces are well equipped with the capabilities they will need in the coming years is unquestioned. Moreover, the top-level goals the Army has set for its future force seem inarguable: to be as lethal and survivable as the current force, but significantly more sustainable and mobile. However, the Army's approach to meeting these needs embodied in the FCS and its complementary systems does raise questions. On the one hand, the FCS is the result of the Army leadership 's taking a hard look at how it wants its forces to fight in the future. Army leadership has had the courage to break with tradition on FCS; it would have likely been much easier to win support for successor vehicles to the Abrams and Bradley. On the other hand, FCS does not present a good business case for an acquisition program. It is necessary that a major new investment like FCS have a compelling, well thought-out concept, but this alone is not sufficient. FCS began product development prematurely in 2003, and today is a long way from having the level of knowledge it should have had before committing the high level of resources associated with a new product development effort. The elements of a sound business case firm requirements, mature technologies, a knowledge-based acquisition strategy, a realistic cost estimate, and sufficient funding are not yet present. FCS has all the markers for risks that would be difficult to accept for any single system. They are even more daunting in the case of FCS, not only because of their multiplicity, but because FCS represents a new concept of operations predicated on technological breakthroughs. Thus, technical problems, which accompany immaturity, not only pose traditional risks to cost, schedule, and performance, but also pose risks to the new fighting concepts envisioned by the Army. Summary.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions written by United States. Government Accountability Office and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions Key Decisions to Be Made on Future Combat System written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Future Combat System (FCS) is central to Army transformation efforts, comprising 14 integrated weapon systems and an advanced information network. In previous work, GAO found that the elements of a sound business case firm requirements, mature technologies, a knowledge-based acquisition strategy, a realistic cost estimate, and sufficient funding were not present. As a result, FCS is considered high risk and in need of special oversight and review. Congress has mandated that the Department of Defense (DOD) decide in early 2009 whether FCS should continue. GAO is required to review the program annually. In this report, GAO analyzes FCS development, including its requirements definition; status of critical technologies, software development, and complementary programs; soundness of its acquisition strategy related to design, production and spin-out of capabilities to current forces; and reasonableness of costs and sufficiency of funding.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions 2009 Review of Future Combat System Is Critical to Program s Direction written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Future Combat System (FCS) program which comprises 14 integrated weapon systems and an advanced information network is the centerpiece of the Army's effort to transition to a lighter, more agile, and more capable combat force. The substantial technical challenges, the Army's acquisition strategy, and the cost of the program are among the reasons why the program is recognized as needing special oversight and review. This testimony is based on GAO's two March 2008 reports on FCS and addresses (1) how the definition, development, and demonstration of FCS capabilities are proceeding, particularly in light of the go/no-go decision scheduled for 2009; (2) the Army's plans for making production commitments for FCS and any risks related to the completion of development; and (3) the estimated costs for developing and producing FCS and risks the Army faces in both meeting the estimate and providing commensurate funding. In its March 2008 reports, GAO made several recommendations the Secretary of Defense that included: establishing criteria that the FCS program will have to meet in the 2009 milestone review in order to justify continuation; identifying viable alternatives to FCS; and taking other actions. DOD concurred with GAO's recommendations.
Download or read book Giappone parchi nazionali ecc written by and published by . This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
