Challenges of Transitioning Technology to Programs

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Challenges of Transitioning Technology to Programs
Air Force Materiel Command

• Maj Gen Charles R Davis
• AAC/CC
• 3 Sep 09

Integrity ? Service ? Excellence
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Challenges to Tech Transition

• Technology Transition to a Program of Record
  (PoR) is virtually a three-legged stool
• Legs are identified as
• Requirements
• Acquisition Program Support
• Technology Maturation
• The imbalance of one leg results in program
  instability

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Challenges to Tech Transition (contd)

• Requirements
• Must be in place (ICD, CDD, UON, etc)
• Essentially impossible to support any initiative
  through the POM process without them
• Acquisition Program Support
• Unified MAJCOM, COCOM, SAF/HAF, and Congressional
  support critical as it goes through POM process
• Many great ideas and requirements, but limited
  budget
• Every initiative must buy its way onto the
  battlefield
• Developmental Planning--linchpin for program
  viability

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Specific Technology Challenges

• Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)
• Requirement Urgent Operational Need (UON)
  preferred solution in FY07
• Solid requirement during FY07-09, however MOP
  remains a potential QRC on B-2 platform
• Technology Maturity
• Tech Maturity lower than desired in 07
• Today Technology currently matured to an
  acceptable level
• Acquisition Support Challenges
• COCOM support, initially no MAJCOM, SAF/HAF, nor
  Congressional Support
• MAJCOM and SAF/HAF now onboard, but Congress
  remains indecisive

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Specific Technology Challenges (contd)

• Directed Energy (Counter Electronics) Weapon
• High Power Microwave (HPM) Counter Electronics
  technology being matured to TRL 6-7 through FY12
  via JCTD
• Acquisition Program Support Challenges
• Overcoming limited AF budget and skeptism
  regarding a true game-changer will be a
  significant challenge to transitioning to a PoR
• AoA Funding - Development Planning funding,
  execution year bill, or ACC POM initiative? No
  institutional process in place to support AoAs

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Specific Technology Challenges (contd)

• Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL)
• USSOCOM ACTD started in Dec 2002 - Extended User
  Evaluation (EUE) started in Sep 2008
• Goal of military utility assessment of a tactical
  airborne laser
• AFSOC to evaluate, educate, and develop CONOPS
  for lasers
• Technical Challenges
• Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) - Laser
  viewed as logistically unsuitable
• COIL also viewed as potentially hazardous
  technology
• Acquisition Program support Challenges
• EUE never funded at level necessary to complete
  robust eval.
• Requirements Challenges
• User community looking for future promise of
  solid state lasers

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Examples of Acquisition Using Technology to
Bridge the Gap

• New Motors Integrated with AIM 120D Seeker as
  Interim Capability while JDRADM gains funding
  support
• Composite warhead cases integrated on legacy
  weapons as new low collateral warhead systems
  evolve
• Advanced computer power- modeling and simulation
  technology can replace expensive, high risk
  flight tests (At end of envelope)

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Need Better Synergy Between Acq and Tech Community

• Acquisition Community has expertise to show what
  role technology can play
• Enhancing performance of existing systems or
  family of systems
• Build long term roadmaps using relatively mature
  technology as a bridge between legacy aspects of
  the system and the next evolution
• Better integrated teams will help move mature
  technology to programs that already have
  Acquisition program support
• AFRL, DARPA, LLNL, etc. all must be an integral
  part of the program team

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