1.0 The ABL PDRR program will design, develop, fabricate, and test a megawatt class laser in a wide body aircraft to destroy theater ballistic missiles at long range during the boost phase of flight. The PDRR program culminates in the destruction of a boosting theater ballistic missile (or appropriate surrogate) at a range consistent with the ABL PDRR Technical Requirements Document (TRD).

1.1 The ABL PDRR system will meet all performance requirements specified in the ABL PDRR TRD and will demonstrate performance scalable and traceable to a future operational airborne laser weapon system capable of meeting all Air Combat Command (ACC) operational requirements stated in the draft ABL ORD USAF 004-91 and the ABL EMD TRD.

1.1.1 The ABL PDRR system will demonstrate the ability to provide precision tracking (aimpoint selection and maintenance) and atmospheric compensation performance under a variety of atmospheric and geometric (range, altitude, and azimuth) conditions, anchor the ABL performance models and codes, and through demonstration/analysis/simulations provide confidence in the ability to meet the fully operational ABL performance requirements prior to entering EMD.

1.1.2 The ABL PDRR system will demonstrate the performance of a high power laser integrated on an aircraft which substantially meets the PDRR requirements and is scalable/traceable to the EMD ABL.

1.1.3 The ABL PDRR system will verify reliability, maintainability, and supportability at levels which provide confidence in the ability to achieve the operational requirements during EMD.

1.1.4 An active advanced technology insertion program will ensure that cost effective upgrade and performance improvement paths are identified and incorporated as part of the future operational system concept. Technical feasibility and cost/benefit trade studies will be conducted to identify the most promising/high payoff technologies and adjunct missions to be recommended for insertion into the ABL baseline at the most efficient point. The ABL design will incorporate features to allow for cost effective future growth and attainment of performance margin in critical areas.

1.2 The ABL PDRR system will be designed, fabricated, and tested in a way that permits incremental verification of allocated performance requirements derived from the PDRR TRD.

1.2.1 The highest risk areas will be identified and early brassboard demonstrations will be used as part of the integrated hardware/software design process. Risk management will be an integral part of the IPD design process.

1.2.2 The ABL PDRR hardware/software will be tested incrementally at the component, subsystem, system, and weapon system level to ensure that integration problems are resolved as early as practical (in a cost effective manner).

1.2.3 The ABL PDRR hardware/software integration risk will be further managed through the early implementation of an evolving, comprehensive software system simulator with sufficient fidelity to permit incremental hardware/software testing during fabrication and integration.

1.2.4 Unique tools, instrumentation, equipment, targets, or other resources required to verify ABL PDRR performance will be developed and validated.

1.3 Following a successful demonstration, the ABL PDRR aircraft and its relevant supporting infrastructure, with minor upgrade or refurbishment, will be capable of performing the TBM defense mission in a limited operational role as defined within the TRD.

1.3.1 All essential ABL PDRR ground support equipment, pressure recovery system, and laboratories will be designed to be relocatable-either portable or transportable.

1.4 The PDRR program will be structured for a rapid (cost effective) transition to EMD. As part of the PDRR program, an ABL preproduction baseline (including PDR and CDR for the EMD configuration) will be established, and the Contractor will prepare the proposal for the follow-on EMD effort. It will incorporate lessons learned from PDRR, and those adjunct missions and technology improvements approved by the Government. The EMD aircraft and other long lead hardware for EMD will be ordered as required to maintain the EMD schedule contained in the ABL Single Acquisition Management Plan.

2.0 MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

Using Integrated Product Development, the Government/Contractor team will apply innovative, affordable ways to meet program objectives while providing the Government with necessary insight into the Contractor's execution of the program.

2.1 The PDRR program will be executed within cost and schedule using the Integrated Task and Management Plan (ITAMP) and Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).

2. 2 Government, Contractor team members, and Government support contractors will comprise the membership of all critical Integrated Product Teams.

2.3 Throughout the development and test of the PDRR system, issues pertaining to performance and affordability (unit flyaway and operations and support costs) of the operational system will be identified, evaluated and addressed. Attainment of design to cost goals and life cycle cost impact assessments will be an important factor in the evaluation and implementation of program decisions.

2.4 Relevant program management and technical records, reports, and data will be generated, transferred, and maintained electronically (near real time). This electronic database will be readily available to the ABL System Program Office (SPO).

2.5 The Contractor will apply best practices, wherever appropriate and consistent with the need to ensure product performance, cost and reliability.