1998 Army Science and Technology Master Plan 1998 Army Science and Technology Master PlanAdvanced Technology Demonstrations are technology demonstrations characterized by:
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Being relatively large scale in resources and complexity but typically focused on an individual system or subsystem.Each ATD is designed to meet or exceed exit criteria agreed upon by the warfighter and ATD manager at program inception. These must be met before the technology in question can transition to development. The ATD approval process is shown in Figure I–25.
Figure I-25. Army ATDMP Approval Process
ATDs seek to demonstrate the potential for enhanced military operational capability or cost effectiveness. Active participation by a TRADOC school, as well as the materiel developer, is required throughout the demonstration. At least one demonstration at a TRADOC battle lab, as well as an advanced simulation, are required. This helps the TRADOC schools develop more informed requirements and the materiel developer reduce risk prior to the initiation of full–scale system development. Table I–1 shows the crosswalk of the ongoing ATDs with the Army Modernization Plan annexes, and STOs (see also Volume II, Annex A and Chapter III).
Table I–1. Correlation Between Ongoing Army ATDs and the |
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ATD |
Army Modernization Plan Annex Section |
ASTMP Description Section |
STO |
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Primary |
Secondary |
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| Rotorcraft Pilot’s Associate | Aviation | IEW | III–D | III.D.01 | |
| Battlefield Combat Identification | C4 | IEW, Combat Maneuver, Aviation | III–E | III.E.07 | |
| Digital Battlefield Communications | C4 | III–E | III.E.09 | ||
| Composite Armored Vehicle | Combat Maneuver | III–G | III.G.01 | ||
| Target Acquisition | Combat Maneuver | III–G | III.G.08 | ||
| Enhanced Fiber–Optic Guided Missile | Combat Maneuver | IEW | III–H | III.H.03 | |
| Precision–Guided Mortar Munition | Combat Maneuver | Fire Support | III–H | III.H.04 | |
| Objective Individual Combat Weapon | Combat Maneuver | III–I | III.I.01 | ||
| Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System | Combat Maneuver | III–N | III.N.11 | ||
| Vehicular–Mounted Mine Detector | Combat Maneuver | III–M | III.M.08 | ||
| Direct Fire Lethality | Combat Maneuver | III–G | III.G.10 | ||
| Integrated Biodetection | NBC | III–K | III.K.03 | ||
| Multispectral Countermeasures | Aviation | III–D | III.D.13 | ||
| Air/Land Enhanced Reconnaissance and Targeting | Aviation | III–D | III.D.14 | ||
| Battlespace Command and Control | C4 | III–E | III.E.06 | ||
| Future Scout and Cavalry System | Combat Maneuver | III–G | III.G.14 | ||
| Multifunction Staring Sensor Suite | Combat Maneuver | III–H | III.H.15 | ||
| Mine Hunter/Killer | Combat Maneuver | III–M | III.M.09 | ||
| Tactical Command and Control Protect | IEW | III–F | III.F.09 | ||
| Multimission/Common Modular Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Sensors | IEW | III–F | III.F.06 | ||
As defined by the Army’s Horizontal Technology Integration (HTI) General Officer Working Group charter, HTI is the application of common enabling technologies across multiple systems within a force to increase force effectiveness. HTI allows the Army to lower R&D costs and development time and to obtain lower unit production costs by procuring larger quantities of the same subsystem for different weapon systems. The Army also benefits from a common logistics base for the same subsystems on multiple platforms. Key technologies under this concept include the 2nd Generation FLIR, Battlefield Combat Identification systems, Digitization, and Survivability Suite of Enhancement systems. Other initiatives under consideration include integrated power management, tactical lasers, and the advanced diagnostics improvement program.
New STOs and ATDs will consider and address HTI opportunities to ensure maximum potential platform applications. Leveraging the STOs and ATDs will facilitate the incorporation of HTI solutions in future system developments and P3I efforts.
In recent years, it has become clear that significant reform in the technology acquisition procedures within DoD is necessary to modernize land, sea, and air forces in a timely and affordable manner. A principal reform under way in Army S&T is the Fast Track ATD policy, implemented to accelerate the Army’s acquisition of selective, high–value, high–priority technology developed within the Army S&T program (Figure I–26). The policy has been developed within existing Army structures and organizations and is compatible with and supports Federal Acquisition Regulation and DoD/Army Acquisition Policy (DoD 5000.1, DoD 5000.2–R, and AR 70–1).
Specifically, the Fast Track program designates certain selected ATDs for increased management attention. To be selected, an ATD must involve technology that is sufficiently mature that it (1) can be demonstrated during a 6.3 ATD program with moderate risk, and (2) is a likely candidate for skipping the program definition and risk reduction (PDRR) phase entirely and transitioning directly to EMD, which is already funded in the POM. If these "likelihoods" are realized, a Fast Track approach can result in measurable time and cost savings.
Figure I-26. Fast Track Acquisition Program
The Fast Track process focuses on synchronizing technology demonstrations with the acquisition process to ensure a quicker transition to EMD for high–priority programs. On average, only one Fast Track ATD candidate per year will be recommended by the ASTWG. To establish a Fast Track ATD program, the ASTWG recommends Fast Track candidates to the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) for approval. Fast Track designation is contingent upon sufficient funding in the POM to advance the technology to an MS I/II decision, through EMD, and into production.
Fast Track ATD candidates must have a Mission Need Statement (MNS) and an Advanced Technology Demonstration Management Plan (ATDMP) for Phase 0. The ATDMP does not limit itself to the plan for the demonstration but also describes transition planning for handover to a program manager to prepare for MS I/II, which occurs at the end of Phase 0.
Until the end of the ATD, requirements remain flexible. The ATD assists TRADOC in understanding the "art of the possible" and provides the basis for finalizing requirements into an Operational Requirements Document (ORD) before the end of Phase 0.
Fast Track designation is not a guarantee of funding or of entry into EMD. An approved Fast Track program loses the Fast Track designation if program funding for EMD falls out of the POM/Extended Planning Period (EPP). At the end of Phase 0, the MDA can approve an MS I/II decision and entry into EMD or, if the ATD was not fully successful, approve entry into a program definition and risk reduction phase
¾or cancel the program. The Army is using the Fast Track policy to try to advance the Future Scout and Cavalry System (FSCS) ATD directly to the EMD phase (Figure I–27).
Figure I-27. Future Scout and Cavalry System