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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

ADVANCED FIELD ARTILLERY TACTICAL DATA SYSTEM (AFATDS)

	Army ACAT IC Program 3,266 systems Total program cost (TY$) $1,131,900K Average unit cost (TY$) $117,000 Full-rate Production Dec 95 (1QFY96) Prime Contractor Hughes

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The AFATDS contributes to the Joint Vision 2010 concept of precision engagement by providing responsive fire support command and control to tie together high fidelity target acquisition, prioritized target requirements, and joint forces within the battlespace. The AFATDS is the Army's system to accomplish these objectives. The AFATDS is a network of computer workstations that process and exchange information from the forward observer to the firing platoon to support indirect fires. Features include the automatic processing of fire requests using customizable guidance, generation of multiple tactical fire solutions for missions, decentralized decision making, monitoring of mission execution, and support for the creation and distribution of fire plans. The AFATDS fundamentally changes tactical fire support by decentralizing the decision-making process. Enhancements in speed and accuracy support matching the increasing demands for fire support to advanced weapon capabilities.

The AFATDS IOT&E, held from July 24, 1995 through September 1, 1995 at Fort Hood, TX, was a division-level command post exercise using soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division. The AFATDS was operationally effective in processing fire missions, receiving updates, and creating fire plans. The AFATDS also was operationally suitable. However, the IOT&E revealed concerns with the interfaces between the AFATDS and radars, the All Source Analysis System (ASAS) and the currently fielded artillery command and control system. Further, the IOT&E did not establish the ability of AFATDS to adequately disseminate changes to artillery guidance.

The AFATDS IOT&E Verification Limited User Test (LUT), June 24 through July 2, 1996, at Fort Sill, OK, examined issues identified in the IOT&E that required additional operational testing before fielding. The IOT&E Verification LUT confirmed resolution of all concerns except fire planning. Subsequently the AFATDS 96 software and CHS-1 hardware entered full procurement and fielding. Fire planning, maximum fire mission processing capacity, and interoperability within the ATCCS were identified as issues for future testing.

The Army is conducting a LUT in October 1997 to support a material release of the AFATDS 97 software on the current CHS-1 hardware and the follow-on CHS-2 hardware. The AFATDS 97 LUT will be conducted at Fort Sill.

The AFATDS IOT&E established the core capability for this program. However, the AFATDS continues to evolve with hardware and software improvements to attain full capability. DOT&E is working with the Army to determine the appropriate level of testing for each upgrade of this software intensive system. Our reviews and test observations determined that the AFATDS 97 LUT is appropriate to support a material release decision of the new software capability.