Delivering Future Combat Systems (FCS) While at War

Abstract

In simple terms, Army modernization deals with equipping the Army's Future Modular Force. The Chairman's focus on "correctly" equipping ground forces frames the Army's approach to FCS. While upgrading current equipment to meet Current Force needs, we are also modernizing the Army to deal with the complex and challenging future. A strong team from government and industry, including Soldiers from the 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF), at Fort Bliss, TX, are delivering FCS today. The AETF recently completed new equipment training and began evaluating the first set of FCS spin out (SO) capabilities. As MG Charles A. Cartwright, Program Manager (PM) Future Combat Systems (Brigade Combat Team) FCS(BCT), so accurately stated, "The days of Microsoft PowerPoint slides are over." Since entering the System Development and Demonstration phase at Milestone B in May 2003, the FCS program progressed rapidly and evolved in numerous ways. FCS increased from 14 to 18 systems at one point, but returned to 14 systems with the 2008 budget submission. The fielding tempo also changed, especially with the July 2004 addition of SOs for selected technologies across the force beyond the FCS(BCT). We accelerated selected FCS technologies while delaying others for further study and development. However, ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq forced the Army to balance current warfighting needs with modernization by shifting resources from FCS to support the current fight. The demands of war will continue to challenge the Army's ability to maintain the balance. The net result is an FCS program that looks rather different in terms of time and schedule, but remains true to the goal of providing a strategically responsive, Joint interdependent, precision maneuver force that is dominant across the full range of military operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA490330

Entities

People

  • Michael A. Vane

Organizations

  • United States Army Training and Doctrine Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Training
  • Civil Affairs
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Explosive Devices
  • Governments
  • Ground Vehicles
  • Information Operations
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Operations
  • Spectra
  • Task Forces
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Training
  • Unmanned Ground Systems
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Systems Analysis and Design