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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

SINGLE-CHANNEL ANTIJAM MAN-PORTABLE (SCAMP) TERMINAL BLOCK I

	Army ACAT IIIC Program 514 systems Total program cost (TY$) $194.4M Average unit cost (TY$) $.39M Full-rate production 1QFY94 FOT&E 2QFY98 Prime Contractor Rockwell

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Single-Channel Antijam Man-Portable (SCAMP) terminal is the rapidly deployable, single-channel, individual-portable component of the Army's Milstar Advanced Satellite Terminal program. SCAMP will draw on the unique capabilities of the Milstar system and enable our forces to maintain information superiority during conflict and enhance full-dimensional protection by using antijam and low-probability-of-intercept technologies.

The primary mission of SCAMP is to provide survivable extended-range communications to Corps and Division tactical units for command and control. SCAMP's use of Milstar's low data rate capabilities to interconnect small tactical units eliminates the line-of-sight limitations on battlefield operations imposed by land-based radio communications systems. The SCAMP operates in a half-duplex mode at a maximum data rate of 2.4 kbps. The SCAMP program is divided into two separate development efforts: Block I and Block II. The goal of the Block I effort is to develop a 37-pound terminal; and the goal of the Block II effort is to develop a 12-pound terminal.

The Milestone III production decision for the Block I SCAMP occurred in November 1994. The full-scale production contract for Block I SCAMP was awarded in February 1996. An FOT&E for the SCAMP is scheduled for August 1998. The FOT&E will evaluate the operational effectiveness and suitability of the end-to-end system to support the Army's fielding decision for the Block I terminal. Milestone II for the Block II program is expected in 4QFY99, although the current development effort is minimally funded.

The Block I SCAMP was redesignated as an Acquisition Category (ACAT) IIIC program in January 1995. The Block II SCAMP remains an ACAT IC program. DOT&E continues full oversight of the SCAMP program, including the Block I terminal, in order to maintain the system perspective in the oversight of the Milstar program.

A customer test was performed in a field and garrison environment in August 1996 to assess the terminal's progress in an operational environment. This test focused on three operational issues:

(1) extending the range for voice and data communications in the field; (2) deployment, setup, and teardown of the equipment; and (3) interoperability with other Milstar terminals. On the basis of the customer test, the U.S. Army OPTEC performed an abbreviated OA of the Block I SCAMP terminal.

The First Article Test is scheduled for October 1997.

The customer test was limited by numerous breakdowns and shortcomings of prototype terminals because the terminals used in the test were not designed for the rigors of field operations. However, OPTEC identified five issues in their abbreviated OA. The resolution of the following five issues will improve the operational effectiveness and suitability of the production terminals:

1. Low message completion rate
2. Poor interoperability with other Milstar terminals caused by communications security problems
3. Excessive set-up and tear-down times
4. Human factors problems
5. Mission database problems

Although there were difficulties encountered with the prototype terminals, the customer tests demonstrated technology that will satisfy the Army's requirements for extending the communications range of small tactical units. The tests also demonstrated that the Army must establish a mechanism to develop and maintain the terminal mission database, which specifies the acquisition and communications input parameters necessary to establish links with the satellite.