Lessons Learned from the Early Stages of Development of the Guardrail Common Sensor for the Radical Reduction of Cycle Time

Abstract

Nine key participants from the government and prime contractor were interviewed to identify important lessons learned from the early stages of development of the Guardrail Common Sensor. In addition to in-depth interviews U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) historical documents unclassified government reports and other public sources were reviewed for information regarding the system development. The management of the system development deviated from normal acquisition processes in several important ways. These are presented and the implications for flexibility in the acquisition process are discussed. The historical development of the Guardrail program summarized in this case suggests that this evolution of advanced airbone communications and electronic intelligence systems represented one of the most successful defense systems developed during the last third of the twentieth century. Based on measures of program cost, schedule, and technical performance, the sequence of Guardrail systems was exceptional.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA423524

Entities

People

  • J. D. Sherman

Organizations

  • Defense Acquisition University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Army Procurement
  • Communications Intelligence
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Electronic Intelligence
  • Electronics
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Governments
  • Lessons Learned
  • National Security
  • Standards
  • Surveillance
  • Systems Engineering
  • Vietnam War

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics