Battlefield Automation: Performance Uncertainties Are Likely When Army Fields Its First Digitized Division
NSIAD-99-150
Published: Jul 27, 1999. Publicly Released: Jul 27, 1999.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's progress toward its goal of fielding a digitized division by the end of 2000, focusing on: (1) the high-priority systems needed to accomplish the digitization fielding goal; (2) the acquisition status of these high-priority systems; and (3) any performance uncertainties that could confront the Army after its first digitized division is fielded.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To optimize the multi-billion dollar investment needed to digitize all Army units, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Army to establish schedules and procurement quantities that minimize the risks associated with fielding FBCB2 without the benefits of operational testing by seizing on the opportunity provided by the reassessment of the FBCB2 acquisition strategy. |
Closed – Implemented
The FBCB2 program is scheduled for a Low-Rate Initial Production decision in December 1999. Following the Army System Acquisition Review Council decision, the FBCB2 Overarching Integrated Product Team will review the program and advise the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and technology regarding accepting the Army's recommendation.
|
| Department of Defense | To optimize the multi-billion dollar investment needed to digitize all Army units, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Army to develop a plan defining when and how the first digitized division will validate that digitization has enabled the high-priority systems to interoperate effectively so that expected increases in lethality, survivability, and tempo of operations have been achieved. The plan should provide for validation to be completed before the digitization is extended to units beyond the first digitized division. |
Closed – Implemented
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence reported that the FBCB2 acquisition strategy was revised and expanded to include additional test and evaluation events. The revision was undertaken to address congressional and DOD concerns. The revised strategy was approved by the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation on June 30, 1999 and represents DOD and Army consensus on an accepted methodology among material developers, users, testers, and those providing oversight within DOD to test and evaluate the operational suitability and effectiveness of FBCB2. Equally, it represents DOD and Army agreement on a methodology to evaluate force effectiveness aspects of the digital hypothesis: lethality, survivability, and tempo.
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IT acquisitionsArmy procurementCommand control communications systemsDefense capabilitiesOperational testingStrategic information systems planningU.S. ArmyMilitary forcesCommand and control systemsRadio