| Progress was also
reported with the US Army Future Combat Systems program, with
lead systems integrator Boeing and its partner SAIC completing
the Engineering Maturity 1 (EM1) review, a system of systems
technical review of the future requirements, designs and tests,
capping the program's first of four major engineering phases.
Dennis Muilenburg, vice president-general manager, Boeing Combat
Systems and FCS program manager explained that this critical
milestone demonstrates that the FCS program has sufficient design
maturity to proceed toward the next milestone – the Preliminary
Design Review (PDR) scheduled for early 2009. Meeting EM1 on
schedule was also an important measure of the team's technical
success as Spin Out 1 capabilities are being delivered for the
US Army for testing next year. (more...)
|
|
EM1 examined initial FCS system designs, functional and performance
analyses, software and hardware maturation, Spin Out 1 deliveries,
and progress in experimentation and testing since the Initial
Preliminary Design Review in August 2006. Final design concepts
will be presented during individual system-level Preliminary
Design Reviews over the next year and later assessed during
the System-of-Systems Preliminary Design Review in early 2009
to confirm they can proceed to final detail design and testing.
Among these capabilities are the network integration
hardware kits, also known as 'B Kits', to be installed on Abrams
main battle tanks, Bradley armored vehicles and HMMWVs. The
kits were delivered to vehicle integrators BAE Systems, General
Dynamics Land Systems and AM General, bringing the total number
of B-kits delivered to date to 18. Through these interfaces,
existing elements of 'current force' - heavy and mechanized
brigades will be able to communicate and share data with FCS
systems. Vehicles equipped with B-kit hardware and software
will operate with the Army Evaluation Task Force test and evaluation
activities scheduled to begin in early 2008.
Each B-kit comprises a Ground Platform Communications
System which includes a Joint
Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Ground Mobile Radio (GMR) and
an Integrated Computer System, running the System of Systems
Common Operation Environment (SOSCOE) software and FCS' standard
Battle Command System applications.
This communications equipment will be able to enhance networking
capability to the current force, as well as improving integration
with unattended sensors and unmanned ground and aerial systems,
deployed in support of current and future combat elements. Muilenburg
indicated that the networking systems will be fielded together
with tactical- and urban unattended ground sensors (UGS) and
the non-line-of-sight launch system.
 The
Battle Command and SOSCOE software enables interoperability
between systems, prioritizing raw data from sensors such as
the Tactical- and Urban-UGS
slated for Spin Out 1. It enables data to be displayed on the
screens of current force vehicles, providing soldiers with enhanced
situational awareness. The software will be integrated seamlessly
with the vehicles' existing software for use in initial qualification
and safety release test activities, that are required before
soldier testing can begin. A final software release this fall,
will enable control and monitoring of multiple UGS fields.
 Among
the systems on display at AUSA 07 were parts of the FCS active
protection system, developed for the ground vehicle systems
(MGS). the system elements on display included - Left: Multifunction
Radar Frequency sensor (MFRF), center: Common RF electronics
unit (CREU), Back: Mast Mounted Sensor including a Medium range
EO (MREO) and Combat ID System and the Transponder Antenna Subsystem
(TAS), right: Interrogator Antenna Subsystem (IAS) and Common
Electronics Interface unit (CEIU).
Other topics covered in this review:
< Page
4 of 11 > |
|
