Defence Business: The land of the LEWG | ADM Aug 2010
The Land Environment Working Group (LEWG) meeting in May was comprehensive in terms of its agenda and spread of capabilities.
The individual project briefs and the one-on-one discussions to some extent satisfied those on a more purposeful mission to identify future opportunities.
To ensure a readable article we have selected those equipment projects from the C3, Combat and Support groups that have a story to tell, perhaps beyond that offered by the LEWG updates.
Tom Muir | Canberra
Land 200
Ian Williams was upbeat about progress with the Battle Management Systems (BMS) acquisitions under respective phases of Land 200 – and so he should have been, with contracts now signed and in full swing to deliver during 2011-13.
Under respective phases of Land 125 and Land 75, and after what appeared to have been protracted contract negotiations signed on 15 March 2010, Elbit Systems will deliver vehicle-mounted BMS (in cooperation with JP 2072 that is delivering the combat radio system), and will deliver 1,501 BMS-dismounted and 164 dismounted command posts to the Army.
Harris Corp has received a $135 million order for Falcon tactical radio systems to provide the battlefield networking capabilities supporting Land 75/125 and also JP 2072.
The order consists primarily of Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) multiband handheld radios, but also includes AN/PRC-117g wideband, AN/PRC-117F multiband and AN/PRC-150(C) HF manpack radios.
Harris is also providing the AN/PRC-152 in vehicular amplifier adapters to support the installation of equipment in more than 1,000 armoured vehicles.
In dismounted configuration the AN/PRC-152(C) will connect soldiers to the ADF’s battle management system and serve as hubs for other soldier-carried C4 devices.
According to the DMO, the major risk is the development of approved vehicle installation designs for the large number of platforms that the system is to be fitted to, and the associated complex design approval process.
This risk is being managed through the use of the strategic materiel contracting template that will generate all of the necessary information needed for design approval.
The major activity for 2010-11 will be the completion of the BMS-dismounted detailed design, including integration onto the soldier, and the start of production to achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC).
IOC, based on a combat team in 7 Brigade in Brisbane, is due in July 2011.
Full operational capability is due in April 2013.
JP2072
While the LEWG presentation provided an indication of issues such as the need to integrate with most land platforms, its heavy links with Land 200 and the diverse range of communications capabilities, most of those interested in the project would have attended the excellent DMO JP 2072 industry brief on 30 March.
The brief was expected to provide updated information on, and an indication of, potential industry players for Phase 2B’s enhanced Command and Control (C2) services.
These include enhanced trunking and switching infrastructure in the land environment.
The complexity of this phase was revealed in the diversity and number of internal (BCSL) and external interfaces required, including to strategic networks and applications such as DRN and PMKEYS!
JP 2072 project director Shane Kingston outlined a range of acquisition considerations including that the Phase 2B materiel system would deliver many system capabilities such as a single capability integrated into single or multiple platforms and multiple capabilities integrated into one or more platforms.
These last were likely to comprise transit cases, shelters and vehicles.
He indicated that hardware should be COTS/MOTS and that management software may need modification and/or development with maximum use of open standards and interface to current system capabilities, future technology growth path and so on.
The project was looking to leverage from other Defence Forces, including US (WIN-T), UK (FALCON) and Canada (LCSS), and ADF/ADO programs (eg commonality benefits, such as support).
Kingston said there was likely to be more than one tender/contract and the current plan was to tender for operational concept and development needs and FPS requirements to be captured in a Description of Requirements (DOR) with one DOR per tender.
Tender or tenders were dependent on DMO capacity and industry capacity.
It is likely that JP 2072 will not procure all BCS(L) system capabilities, there being separate funding and acquisition scope for JP 2008’s Land Segment/s.
In regard to progressing the Phase 2 acquisition, the project office could conduct:
• an ITR to identify a shortlist of systems integrators and/or suppliers,
• a Systems Definition Activity (SDA) to refine, validate and reduce risk,
• a tender evaluation that includes an Offer Definition Activity (ODA).
In terms of project risks for the program, these included:
• forthcoming Federal Government Election (Caretaker Mode),
• Phase 2B scope had yet to be approved (First Pass Approval),
• coordination of multiple projects relevant to project office and DMO capacity (ESD projects will consume a significant portion of DCP funds).
On the commercial side, project risk included:
• industry capacity (ESD projects will consume a significant portion of DCP funds),
• multiple contracts (ability to share information, IP and TAA between companies).
There were also technical risks such as:
• system control and management [‘no single COTS or MOTS product is capable of providing a comprehensive network management across all service layers within the BCS(L)’],
• information assurance [‘the BCS(L) will support multiple security domains’],
• integration (system and platform),
• multiple interfaces (level of definition may vary).
Industry feedback (the earlier the better) was sought on engineering concepts and potential technology solutions as well as possible risks not covered in the above list.
The aim is that there will be no surprises when the tender/s are released.
LAND 17 Ph 1 Artillery Replacement
Colonel Steve Saddington reiterated the project’s aim of modernising the Army’s fire support system through the acquisition of a networked BMS-F and a mixture of protected SP Howitzers (SPH) and Lightweight Towed Howitzers.
He said current issues for Land 17 included the evaluation of tenders for the Phase 1B Digital Terminal Control System and that the Offer Definition and Refinement Period (ODRP) for the Phase 1C Self Propelled Howitzer was being finalised.
We can add here that the digital terminal control system is part of Land 17’s Battle Management System Fires (BMS-F) which consists of the following, interlinked, components:
• BMS-F (C2) AFATDS
• BMS-F Forward Observer (FO) Digital Terminal Control System (DTCS)
• BMS-F Fire Control System (FCS) located on the LW155 and SPH Platforms.
According to the original ITR the (indicative) requirement was for up to 107 sets of DTCS equipment including appropriate artillery fire mission, offensive air support and naval surface fire support software operating on a Military Rugged Tablet (MRT) computer.
The system chosen will involve a number of integration tasks.
It must be fully integrated with the artillery fire control systems (FCS) of both the M777A2 LWT and the yet to be selected SPH 155mm, and it must also be fully integrated with AFATDS and other components of the ADF’s network centric system.
It must also interface with the Land 75 and Land 125 vehicle-mounted and dismounted BMS provided by Elbit Systems, to receive friendly force location and tracking, identification of enemy locations, and all-arms call for fire.
Systems understood to be under evaluation include the Stauder Technologies StrikeLink, Rockwell Collins’ Firestorm and Elbit Systems’ UIDN V2.
ADM also understands that under Land 17 Ph 1A, 35 M777A2 Lightweight 155mm Towed Howitzers, a Battle Management System – Fires (BMS-F) Command and Control (C2) system, and course correcting fuzes are being purchased from the US Government through the FMS program.
An initial delivery of one gun is to occur this month to enable testing to be completed.
The first major delivery of 10 guns is planned for March 2011.
This phase has an ISD of mid 2011, with FOC scheduled for achievement in 2013.
The Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) produced by Raytheon Network Centric Systems in the US has been selected as the BMS-F (C2) and procured through FMS arrangements with the US Government.
Initial deliveries of the software, for acceptance testing, are planned to occur from January 2011.
The XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit, which has been selected as the course correcting fuze materiel solution, is produced by Alliant Techsystems (US).
The FMS case for procurement is planned for mid 2010, with initial deliveries for testing planned for mid 2011.
Land 400 Combined Arms Fighting System
This project brief was conducted by Lieutenant Colonel David Heatley in one of the breakout areas and did not form part of the Land Combat general brief.
No resume of the presentation was provided, however we can add here that Defence had earlier released a request for information (RFI) in support of its requirement to procure a range of vehicles intended to deliver the Australian Army’s future combat capability.
A solicitation document for Project Land 400, which is valued at between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, was issued by the Department of Defence on 5 May and states that interested parties must respond before 7 June.
In his accompanying letter to potential respondents, Brigadier Mal Rerden director general Land Development, says that commencing with Phase 2A the Land 400 Combined Arms Fighting System project aims to replace this country’s existing combat vehicle fleets.
The acquired future combat vehicle system is expected to comprise differing variants and undergo a phased procurement over the life of the project.
Land 400 will replace and enhance those combat systems currently enabled by M113, ASLAV and Bushmaster (life-of-type around 2020) in order to meet the challenges posed by the 2020 and beyond environment.
Land 400 will be central to the future Army’s ability to manoeuvre to detect and defeat threats by stand-off attack and/or by close combat, operating within complex environments, while ensuring survivability of own forces.
Land 400 will pursue a ‘system of systems’, rather than a platform replacement, approach to deliver the Army’s future combat capability.
The information received as a result of the RFI from various industry sources, from a system, platform and sub-system perspective, will allow Land Development Branch to undertake detailed analysis to support more informed decision-making on capability, cost and schedule.
This input will form the basis of the First Pass Business Case to be considered by Government in 2012.
The RFI sought specific pricing but gave no indication of quantities or an operational context and as such is judged to be a far cry from its 2006 predecessor.
Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light
Presenter Colonel David Shields said the project aim was to provide light protected vehicles and trailers for command, liaison, utility and reconnaissance roles.
First pass had been achieved in late 2008 and an in-service date of 2016-18 was anticipated.
Project issues included Defence’s partnering with the US JLTV Technology Development Phase alongside a separate Manufactured and Supported in Australian (MSA) RFP which closed in September 2009.
Under the local build (MSA) requirement three Australian-based companies will be awarded up to $9 million each for the development of protected
mobility vehicle prototypes, putting them in the running for a manufacturing contract for up to 1,300 vehicles.
The contenders will be given around six months to produce two test-drive ready prototype vehicles each.
The MSA contenders have been building their MSA credentials since their shortlisting.