FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release #03-017 March 28, 2003
FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMS (FCS) COMPLETES CAPSTONE DEMONSTRATION
Calling it the 'graduation event' in a series of demonstrations held during the course of the current phase of the Future Combat Systems program, The Army, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) today announced the successful completion of the program's Capstone Demonstration.
The Capstone Demonstration, which was conducted this week at Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Belvoir, Va., is a culmination and wrap-up of seven previous demonstrations held during the FCS Concept and Technology Development (CTD) phase. The demonstration was intended, in part, to illustrate the FCS program concepts and to demonstrate the program's readiness for transition to the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase.
"The demonstrations have been instrumental in eliminating uncertainty and reducing risk; they have given us valuable insights into the enhanced capabilities of an FCS-equipped force," said COL William Johnson, program manager, Objective Force. "It's been a tough and demanding year, but the Army/DARPA/LSI team should be proud of their tremendous accomplishments."
"I was especially pleased with the feedback from the soldiers at Ft. Knox taking part in the simulations," Jerry McElwee, vice president and FCS LSI program manager, said. "They provided many frank and positive comments on the simulated FCS capabilities added to their ability to accomplish assigned missions. More importantly, they helped us identify those capabilities and areas that require more attention."
The Capstone Demonstration consisted of a series of multi-media presentations, interwoven with a warfighting simulation of a Unit of Action (UoA) that showed the overall capabilities of the FCS System of Systems -- how it is organized, the technologies behind it, how it is deployed, and how it is sustained. The simulation portion of the demonstration was executed at the Unit of Action Mounted Battle Laboratory (UAMBL) at Fort Knox, Ky., with a live video feed to the portal at Fort Belvoir.
FCS, the Army's transformation program, is a networked "family of systems" that uses advanced communications and technologies to link the soldier with manned and unmanned air and ground platforms and sensors. This highly agile and lethal force will provide the tactical formations required to fulfill the Army's vision for an Objective Force.
The Lead Systems Integrator, working in partnership with the Army and DARPA, has total systems performance responsibility for the FCS program. The Lead Systems Integrator manages the identification, selection and procurement of major systems and subsystems. The LSI also works with the Army to develop the operational, systems, and technical architectures, which provide links to the Objective Force as well as Joint, Interagency and Multinational organizations.
DARPA currently manages the FCS Concept and Technology Development phase of the program. Following entry into the System Development and Demonstration phase, the U.S. Army Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems will take responsibility for systems integration, production, fielding, and sustainment. The FCS first unit equipped will be fielded in 2008 and the initial operational capability (IOC) for the first FCS equipped Unit of Action will be in 2010.
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For more information, please contact Maj. Army Hannah, Army Public Affairs Media Relations Division, at (703) 697-4314/7591.
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