Weapons Development Challenges in the Spiral Environment

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Weapons Development Challenges in the Spiral
Environment

• Colonel Mike Leggett
• HQACC/A8Z
• Advanced Programs Division
• 1 Feb 06

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Overview

• Where We Are
• The Joint Fight and What Todays Weapons Provide
• Where We Need to Go
• What Future Weapons bring to the Fight
• Points to Ponder
• Spiral Development?
• Testing?
• Budget?

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Where We AreThe World Environment
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Where We AreJoint/Combined Is A Must

• Joint/Combined forces two main strengths
• a diverse set of capabilities inherent in the
  various services and other organizations that
  comprise the force
• an exceptional ability to integrate those
  capabilities in pursuit of a common aim
• Joint/Combined Warfare support seen through our
  A8 mission
• Acquire, Sustain and Modernize weapons that
  support Joint Warfare
• Attributes we will acquire/enhance to fight
  tomorrows fight
• Knowledge Empowered, Networked, Interoperable
  Force
• Expeditionary, Adaptable/Tailorable,
  Enduring/Persistent Dominance
• Precise, Fast and Lethal Effects
• Resilient, Agile and Sustainable Forces

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The Ultimate in Joint InteroperabilityFirst USAF
JSF Base, CVN-XX USS OClub
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Where We AreACC/A8 Top 8 Weapons Enhancements

• Adverse weather capable
• Precise
• Increased carriage
• Extended range
• Kill mobile targets
• Increased flexibility
• Versatile warheads
• Data-linked

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Where We Need To GoFuture Weapons Capabilities

• Autonomous, Networked, Multi Role
• Standoff/Long range/Persistent
• Lethal / Non-Lethal (adjustable)
• Mobile Targets (land and sea)
• Minimize collateral damage
• Quickly Integrated, Common Interfaces,
  Multiple-Platform carriage and release

DRAAM
DROLE
Auto Target Recognition (ATR)
Adv Warhead
Tactical Multi-mission Laser Weapon
Electro-magnetic Gun
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Points to PonderChallenges Today

• Capabilities vision (JCIDS) still evolving
  throughout DoD
• Platform, weapons and mission area fluctuations
  cause frequent shifts in DoD capability to affect
  future fight
• BRAC / QDR impact baseline force structure we map
  against
• Many fingers in the pie keep us guessing
• As a result, the ability to plan and execute
  without adding excessive risk mitigation is very
  difficult in most development programs
• Adding huge cost and schedule to programsome
  valid, some not
• Spiraling Capability is probably the only
  executable way to get the long term solutions we
  need, but it has baggage

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Points to PonderSpiral Development

• Spiral Development is a great idea, but very
  challenging to execute efficiently over time
• We must stiff-arm urge to add capability to a
  defined increment before fielding
• Requirements creep disguised as spiral
  development
• Adding new requirements to initial capabilities
  before fielding is not spiral development.
• Weapons programs in the early throes of Spiraling
• JASSM JASSM-ER, JASSM-WDL
• SDB SDB II
• WCMD WCMD-ER
• Programs That have Spiraled Well
• AMRAAM AIM-120A thru AIM-120D
• AIM-9B thru AIM-9X

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Yes, It Can Be DoneAMRAAM Spirals
LOT AWARD FY
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91
93
95
96
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98
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01
02
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05
06
07
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90
89
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94
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LOT DELIVERY FY
93
95
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
92
91
90
89
96
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Lot 20-24 Enhanced Data Link, GPS/IMU, Improved
Software
Phase 4
Lot 16-21 Major Guidance Section Upgrade,
USA/USMC Beginning Lot 18 (Planned Buys 875 USAF,
219 USN, 96 USA, 237 USMC)
Phase 3
Lot 13-15 New Target Detection Device, Improved
Software (513 USAF, 254 USN)
Phase 2
Lot 12 Shortened Control Section, Longer Rocket
Motor, FMS Beginning Lot 15 (173 USAF, 120 USN)
Phase 2
Phase 2
Lot 11 New Warhead, Improved Software (133 USAF,
100 USN)
Phase 1
Lot 8-10 Minor Guidance Section Upgrade, Smaller
Wings/Fins, Improved Software (1,682 USAF 296
USN)
Lot 6-8 EEPROM, Software, FMS Lot 7-14 (1,245
USAF, 224 USN)
AIM-120B
Eight Distinct Spirals in Four Major Blocks in
20 years
Lot 1-6 New Active Radar Missile (3,316 USAF,
543 USN)
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And Were Pretty Good At Making Things Work
JASSM DT/OT Reliability
JASSM DT/OT Accuracy
2000lb Effects in a 1000lb Standoff, Survivable
Weapon
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ButIts Not Getting Easier

• Testing is becoming an extreme challenge
• Incredibly difficult to design test in a spiral
  development environment
• Even if a good test regime is designed, new
  capabilities are rapidly outpacing our
  range/infrastructure to test
• Spiral program Test Adequacy must be addressed
• No room for the perfect test
• There MUST be a unambiguous link between the
  operational requirement, the contract
  specification and the testing accomplished
• Funding atmosphere is flat at best
• No additional TOA available to make major changes
  in testing regime three or four years into
  development
• Near term developmental programs paying for
  test/training from production

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In Case You WonderedA TOA Increase It Isnt
Looking Good
Debt Servicing Medicaid Medicare SS
Demand for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
will limit Defense outlays after 2010
Source AF/XPX
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Summary

• Joint Warfare is here to stay
• Systems we Acquire, Sustain and Modernize must
  fit into the Joint way of warfighting
• Joint Team Makeup
• Interoperable equipment, platforms and weapons
  are critical
• Services core competencies helps build an
  unbeatable Team

We MUST set baseline expectations for spirals,
build and test to it, then field if it works. We
all MUST help others understand the need to
step our way to the full solution as technology
and funds allow
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Gratuitous Motivational Explosions