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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

STRATEGIC WAR PLANNING SYSTEM (SWPS)

	Air Force ACAT IAM Program 1 system Total program cost (TY$) 202M Average unit cost (TY$) 202M Life cycle cost (TY$) 442M Full-rate production (IOC) 4QFY99 Prime Contractor GDE TRW LOGICON

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Strategic War Planning System (SWPS) will provide the National Command Authority with information superiority contributing to the full-dimensional protection of the Nation and precision engagement of the enemy. SWPS is a modernization effort designed to transition applications from a mainframe architecture to a client-server architecture. Additionally, the war planning process is evolving to a "Living SIOP" (Single Integrated Operational Plan) concept which is based on continuous analysis of guidance, forces, and target changes with a graduated war planning process matched to the magnitude of the changes.

Among the major objectives of the SWPS Modernization Program was the reduction in the SIOP development and implementation time from 18 to 6 months, the development of limited options in as little as 24 hours, and the implementation of platform-compatible deliberate and crisis planning tools in both fixed and mobile planning environments. In addition, the increased computational workload stemming from the incorporation of new, low observable weapon systems had to be accommodated without impacting the new requirements for system responsiveness.

The conceptual SWPS computing environment consists of the graphics workstations as the predominant application processing platform. A global server provides access to printers and global data (data used by more than one SWPS application). External links are controlled by the global server through guard processors. The communications backbone contains four rings supporting TOP SECRET SIOP/Extremely Sensitive Information (ESI), TOP SECRET, SECRET, and unclassified.

SWPS supports JV2010 in the area of Precision Engagement. The improved responsiveness and reduced SIOP cycle time, coupled with the potentially higher lethality of its solutions makes SWPS a direct warfighting asset for the tactical and strategic Commander.

The SWPS Modernization Program is a consolidation of several upgrade projects that support/satisfy several major program planning guidance objectives identified in the DoD Defense Guidance issued in May 1992, and listed as part of the USSTRATCOM SWPS Mission Need Statement, 3 August 1993. A February 1994 SDM set the acquisition process in motion and established OSD oversight of the program.

The test strategy has been structured to evaluate the system throughout the course of entire SIOP cycles when major applications are ready for evaluation. A recent decision to accelerate the modernization effort has resulted in a test program which conducted its first OT this year, with a full-system OA scheduled for next year and a full-system OT the following year. Additional testing may be warranted depending on the program's level of success in advancing the original schedule.

AFOTEC conducted an IOT&E on the SWPS Missile Application throughout the SIOP

process ending in July 1997, in compliance with the DOT&E approved TEMP. Data was collected throughout the period. The system- wide operational assessment is underway and will be competed in 3^rd QFY98.

The missile application functional area was evaluated in the OT&E to determine if it supported the user in performing deliberate, adaptive, and theater planning of intercontinental ballistic missile (IBCM) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). The evaluation also assessed the reliability and maintainability of the missile application functional area.

This was the first test in a series of evaluations for this program. No major problems were revealed, and all note-worthy shortcomings fell in the area of suitability. This OT&E has laid the ground work for the upcoming system-wide OA, core system OT&E, and future increment testing. Risk analysis of each future increment will be conducted to determine the level of operational testing. The bulk of the testing will occur over the next two years.

The missile application functional area of the SWPS modernization demonstrated both effectiveness and suitability. The primary criteria for measuring system performance are time to plan requirements and field abort percentages. Throughout the test, the missile planning subsystem demonstrated required performance.

The users thought the systems was a large improvement over the legacy system. However, error abatement and complexity were areas of concern. The other area that will need improvement is software documentation. As the program moves to fielding of the next increment these issues are to be resolved and tested. DOT&E now considers this program low risk.