Army Briefs Industry On Future Air & Ground Standards
“Modular open systems architecture... is the foundation of all our future modernization,” said Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean. The Bradley replacement, OMFV, will be the test case.
“Modular open systems architecture... is the foundation of all our future modernization,” said Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean. The Bradley replacement, OMFV, will be the test case.
Starting with a summit this December, the Army’s acquisition chief wants to harmonize technical standards across ground vehicles, aircraft, and other systems so they can easily use common components in their design – potentially saving millions – and share tactical data in battle – potentially saving lives.
The Army can’t keep modernizing around the edges at its World War II-era ammunition plants, Assistant Secretary Bruce Jette said: It has to “transform” them. The detailed plan -- and cost -- are TBD.
A worker died in 2017 scooping up explosive tetrazene by hand with a spatula. The Army and Congress agree an upgrade is long overdue — but it won't be cheap.
The Army Futures commander is making a list of which of the service’s 34 top-priority programs to sacrifice first – and which programs outside the top 34 he has to save.
The Army’s drive to modernize by 2035 is too big for traditional five-year spending plans, acquisition chief Bruce Jette said. So he’s reviving long-term economic forecasting used in the Cold War.
Michigan’s defense ecosystem and expertise makes it a special asset for production.
This fall’s experiment will study how the Army’s own weapons can share target data, Gen. Murray said, but in 2021 he wants to add the Air Force’s ABMS network.
While the pandemic continues, Pentagon metrics show production on Army programs is returning to normal, the Army’s acquisition chief told Breaking Defense.
"The impact of the COVID crisis in the aviation sector has been really nothing short of catastrophic," said Hunter. "At this point, it's very challenging for those companies to stay in business."
While some prototype deliveries and field tests are being delayed, Army leaders said, there’s enough slack in the schedule that combat units will still get the new tech on time.
"The first is scheduled for Nigeria," Gen. Stephen Lyons, TRANSCOM chief told reporters today, involving transport of "150 passengers" to Washington Dulles Airport in Virginia by civil aviation aircraft.
“This was a tough decision,” association president Carter Ham told Breaking Defense, but with over 6,000 people expected to gather in close quarters, “I am confident this is the right decision.”
US and foreign missiles alike are welcome at next year’s missile defense “shoot off,” the Army’s acquisition chief told us, as long as they can share data with the Army’s IBCS command system.
Israeli manufacturer Rafael says its anti-rocket system can now shoot down cruise missiles. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and acquisition chief Bruce Jette are saying, show us the data.