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STATEMENT BY
DR. A. MICHAEL ANDREWS II
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY FOR
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AND CHIEF SCIENTIST

BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRORISM, UNCONVENTIONAL THREATS AND CAPABILITIES
HOUSE ARMED SERVICE COMMITTEE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONCERNING
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MARCH 27, 2003

   

INTRODUCTION

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee thank you for the opportunity to describe the Fiscal Year 2004 Army Science and Technology (S&T) Program and the significant role S&T has in achieving the Army's Transformation to our Objective Force Capabilities.

We want to thank the Members of this Committee for your important role in making today's Army the world's preeminent land combat force and your support of today's S&T investments that will sustain this preeminence for our future soldiers.  Your continued advice and support are vital to our success.

TRANSFORMATION

The 2004 budget funds the fourth year of Army Transformation.  The science and technology investments in this budget pursue technologies that can be matured and rapidly transitioned to system development and procurement to enable Objective Force capabilities as soon as possible.  We also fund an agile basic research program focused on enduring Army needs as well as paradigm shifting opportunities to further transform the Army.   The Objective Force Army will provide the Joint Force Commander with even more versatile, full spectrum capabilities than today's forces with decisive combat power while requiring much less logistics support.

FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMS (FCS)

The Future Combat Systems (FCS) program transitions Increment I to System Development and Demonstration in Fiscal Year 2003.  However, at $625M FCS remains the single largest S&T investment in the Fiscal Year 2004 budget.  This investment will provide advanced technology for FCS capabilities beyond Increment I using a spiral development acquisition approach to insert advanced technology as it becomes available.

The FCS represents a true paradigm shift in how we fight.  In the Army's quest for true innovation, it established a partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2000 to explore innovative FCS concepts and technologies.  This partnership has been successful in pursuing several innovative technology solutions from the Army S&T program, DARPA's core investments, industry partners, as well as international sources that are now being "harvested" by the FCS Lead Systems Integrator-Boeing/Systems

Applications International Corporation team.  The FCS is not "a platform," it is a family of 18 systems plus the soldier and the network.  It is a system of systems-- battlefield capabilities in which the whole exceeds the sum of its parts. 

The FCS system of systems is based on information age technologies, embedded in manned and unmanned air/ground platforms, as well as integrating long-range air- and ground-based sensors with long-range cannon and missile precision munitions, to enable "Network-Centric Warfare."  Key technologies include:  Fully networked secure, non line-of-sight, On-the-Move Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR); beyond line-of-sight cannons; stand-off precision and loiter attack missiles; advanced signature management; active protection; advanced armor; and hybrid electric propulsion.  In addition, FCS will incorporate embedded, real-time interactive, simulations for training and mission rehearsal.  The Army is on track to achieve the FCS first unit equipped (FUE)-one battalion equivalent-in 2008 and an initial operating capability of one brigade Unit of Action (UoA) in 2010.

OBJECTIVE FORCE WARRIOR

Another major S&T investment is Objective Force Warrior (OFW) that will enable follow-on increments of FCS.  The OFW will provide capabilities to the individual soldier that is achievable only at the platform-level today.  Through networked connectivity to the FCS-equipped maneuver Unit of Action (UoA), OFW will enable revolutionary lethality, mobility, survivability, and sustainability for the individual soldier while reducing logistics demands.  By the end of 2006, the OFW program will demonstrate increased individual soldier lethality and survivability through netted communications and fires while reducing the soldier's physical load from over 90 lbs to a goal of 40 lbs.  The program develops a lightweight, low-observable, enhanced-armor protection fighting ensemble.  Other key technologies include lightweight, high-efficiency power sources; embedded physiological monitoring and limited medical treatments; multi-functional light-weight materials; embedded training; and networked sensors to enable unparalleled situational understanding.

COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COMPUTERS INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE (C4ISR) INITIATIVES

The S&T investments in C4ISR initiatives will enable network-centric Objective Force operations.  These efforts allow sensor and processing technology to see, understand and shape the battlespace before the enemy can react-increasing combat force effectiveness and survivability.  The S&T program will develop and demonstrate real-time, continuous situational understanding by integrating data from manned and unmanned air- and ground-based sensors.  Technologies include:  Next generation, high performance multispectral sensors (electro-optic, infrared, radio frequency, acoustic, seismic, chemical); algorithms and intelligent agents to integrate data from a wide variety of networked sensors (airborne and ground); adaptive, self-healing Command & Control and Communications (C3) networks; and high-data rate processors.   We have made significant progress in the past 18 months in realizing network-centric capabilities through our C3 On-The-Move Advanced Technology Demonstration program at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  This S&T demonstration is providing new insights for commander-centric operations for our warfighters while transitioning prototype-like products to current capabilities.

UNMANNED SYSTEMS

Unmanned Systems will be integral in future UoA operational concepts.  These will expand the envelope of warfighting capabilities while reducing risk to soldiers and the logistics footprint of the force.  The S&T program is pursuing a wide spectrum of technologies for unmanned air and ground systems.  The goal is to enable an overmatching ground combat force where up to 33 percent of its systems are unmanned by 2015.  Unmanned systems will range in size from manportable to large cargo-lifting unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).  

Small UGVs can be employed in complex terrain (MOUT and jungles) to provide continuous information superiority.  Larger UGVs can perform high-risk (minefield breaching, attack well-armed threats, chemical bio detection) or routine functions (truck re-supply, soldier mule, and medical evacuation).  Realizing the full potential of unmanned systems requires technology development in areas including sensors for navigation and mission performance, intelligent systems for semi-autonomous or autonomous operation, networked communications for manned-unmanned teaming, and human-robotic interfaces. 

Army S&T is investing in UAVs for the soldier and for the FCS family of systems.  Our smallest UAV is the Micro Air Vehicle (MAV), a 9-inch, 8-ounce ducted fan UAV that can be carried and launched by an individual soldier.  It is being matured as an Advanced Concept Technology Development (ACTD) and will be ready by 2005.  The Army is also maturing the Organic Air Vehicle (OAV), a larger scale - 19-inch -- ducted fan UAV designed to be launched from an FCS platform.  The OAV is in competition for FCS Increment I.   Small UAVs provide new capabilities for reconnaissance, precision targeting, extended range communications, and stand off-precision fires in support of the warfighter.  The major S&T UAV investments are in larger UAVs.  The A-160 Hummingbird will meet medium altitude long endurance requirements to provide communications relay and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for the UoA.  The A-160 Hummingbird is undergoing flight testing now in California with transition scheduled for Fiscal Year 2007. 

In 2002, the Army established a new agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR).  By 2006 this program will demonstrate the first flight prototypes fully autonomous, armed, low-observable, unmanned rotorcraft capability for deep tactical strike and Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) missions.  The UCAR program exploits the agility, flexibility, and responsiveness inherent in armed rotorcraft systems to provide a highly survivable, lethal option to the Objective Force, taking the soldier out of harm's way.  Rotorcraft provide the unique ability to perform stationary hover to acquire and engage targets in complex terrain and Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) environments, as well as enable enhanced survivability through the ability to perform rapid acceleration and evasive maneuvers.  The UCAR program matures next generation autonomy, collaborative operations, and command and control technologies.  The UCAR can be an independent weapon/RSTA system in FCS, or teamed with manned systems like RAH-66 Comanche.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION

Successful transition of Army S&T is central to enabling the Army Vision.  The Army S&T community has been challenged to develop a revolutionary warfighting capability within an accelerated timeframe.  To accelerate technology transition, the Army adopted aggressive management practices and methodologies to manage risk.  The Army adopted Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) as the method to measure the maturity of the technologies being developed.  TRLs were identified in the recommendations put forward in the 1999 General Accounting Office (GAO) Report[1] citing best practices for the management of technology development.  The GAO stated that critical technologies and/or subsystems should be at a high level of maturity prior to making the commitment for development and production of a weapons system.  The Army has adopted this approach and is using TRLs to track and communicate technology maturity levels to the acquisition community.  We can take time out of the transition process by maturing technology in the S&T phase to greater than TRL 6 - system/subsystem prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.  By doing this, we spend more in S&T, but save time and money in Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD), then proceed faster to production.

Risk management is another tool designed to improve the transition of advanced technologies to the warfighter by providing the gaining acquisition Program Manager with a risk assessment and risk mitigation plan for S&T programs.  While Technology Readiness Levels assess the estimated maturity of a technology, the risk management process focuses on identifying, tracking, and managing potential cost, schedule, and performance risks. 

COUNTERMINE TASK FORCE

Mine detection, neutralization, and minefield breaching have been enduring Army challenges that must be overcome to enable Objective Force Full-Spectrum operations.  The Army has established a Science and Technology Countermine Task Force (STCTF) to develop integrated, holistic Countermine S&T program proposal(s) to accelerate transition of innovative technologies to satisfy the Army's Countermine mission needs.  The Task Force will:

• Suggest technology investment areas and priorities and identify technical and integration risks affecting the accelerated transition of technology to enable Objective Force Countermine Operations;

• Examine expansion of countermine capabilities that leverage future sensors, processors, and management of large numbers of sensors with assured connectivity;

• Examine solutions for rapid mine neutralization and minefield breaching considering the full-range of potential manned and unmanned platform applications, air and ground based;

• Consider the full-range of science and technology opportunities from basic research through advanced technology development and provide recommendations for near and far term options; and

• Identify countermeasures that may affect countermine technology solutions.

LOGISTICS S&T

The revolutionary capabilities projected for the Objective Force will not be achieved until there is a corresponding revolution in military logistics.  Reducing the logistics "drivers" -fuel, ammunition, maintenance, and water - will enable speed and agility in the Force.  Some of the key enabling technologies for logistics reduction include:  On-board water generation; real-time logistics command and control (Log C²) and distribution management; enhanced multi-purpose munitions and packaging; fuel efficient propulsion and power technologies; real-time diagnostics and prognostics; and microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS). 

BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAM

The Army Basic Research program produces new understanding to enable revolutionary advances and paradigm shifts in technology to enable the Army's Transformation goals.  This program invests in world-class expertise (government, academia and industry) and state of the art equipment to explore fundamental phenomena and exploit scientific discovery.  These investments are key to the Army's ability to win the race for speed and precision.  Today, Global Positioning Systems, night vision devices, and precision-guided munitions are essential to all our operations.   These capabilities can be traced to sustained basic research investments in decades past.  The Army's Basic Research program has three components:  World class university-based research to support single investigators and focused centers to enable paradigm shifting capabilities such as nanotechnology for the soldier; research at centers that advance enduring needs in the areas of rotorcraft and automated technologies; and industry led centers focused on robotics, power and energy, communication networks, display technologies, and decision aids.  It exploits advances in emerging, high payoff technologies such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, robotics, immersive environments, directed energy, and very high performance computing

conclusion

The Army must have a diverse S&T portfolio that is responsive to current and future warfighter needs.  The S&T community seeks technological solutions that can be demonstrated in the near-term, explores the feasibility of new concepts for the midterm, and explores the imaginable for an uncertain far-term future.  Since the Army vision was announced in October 1999, the Army S&T effort has been reshaped, refocused, and reinforced to speed the development of those critical technologies essential to transform the Army into the objective force.  The Army S&T community has accepted the technical challenges embraced in the Army Vision.  We have committed our intellectual resources-our people-and our facilities and funding to maintain the momentum of the Army's Transformation!