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Acquisition: Air Force Transition of Advanced Technology Programs to Military Applications

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Publisher :

Page : 46 pages

File Size : 36,86 MB

Release : 2003

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Book Description

Congress and DoD officials have voiced concern that technology has not quickly transitioned to the warfighter. In 1999, the Commander of Air Force Materiel Command established the Applied Technology Councils for advanced technology demonstrations to facilitate the transition of technology projects to the warfighter. The audit examined 30 S&T projects (24 advanced technology demonstrations and 6 critical experiments) funded from the advanced technology development budget subcategory of the FY 2003 Air Force research, development, test, and evaluation appropriation. The 30 S&T projects were valued at $123 million. The 30 S&T projects had additional planned funding of $222 million from FY 2004 through FY 2007.



Acquisition

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Page : pages

File Size : 24,72 MB

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Category : Defense industries

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This reports evaluates the DOD process for increasing the likelihood that emerging technology would more quickly transition to the warfighter for use.



Evaluation of U.S. Air Force Preacquisition Technology Development

Author : National Research Council

Publisher : National Academies Press

Page : 154 pages

File Size : 20,31 MB

Release : 2011-04-01

Category : Technology & Engineering

ISBN : 0309162750

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Book Description

From the days of biplanes and open cockpits, the air forces of the United States have relied on the mastery of technology. From design to operation, a project can stretch to 20 years and more, with continuous increases in cost. Much of the delay and cost growth afflicting modern United States Air Force (USAF) programs is rooted in the incorporation of advanced technology into major systems acquisition. Leaders in the Air Force responsible for science and technology and acquisition are trying to determine the optimal way to utilize existing policies, processes, and resources to properly document and execute pre-program of record technology development efforts, including opportunities to facilitate the rapid acquisition of revolutionary capabilities and the more deliberate acquisition of evolutionary capabilities. Evaluation of U.S. Air Force Preacquisition Technology Development responds to this need with an examination of the current state of Air Force technology development and the environment in which technology is acquired. The book considers best practices from both government and industry to distill appropriate recommendations that can be implemented within the USAF.



Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program

Author : National Research Council

Publisher : National Academies Press

Page : 82 pages

File Size : 35,73 MB

Release : 2001-10-05

Category : Political Science

ISBN : 0309076080

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Book Description

Since the mid-1940s, when Vannevar Bush and Theodore von Karman wrote Science, the Endless Frontier and Toward New Horizons, respectively, there has been a consensus that strong Department of Defense support of science and technology (S&T) is important to the security of the United States. During the Cold War, as it faced technologically capable adversaries whose forces potentially outnumbered U.S. forces, the United States relied on a strong defense S&T program to support the development of technologically superior weapons and systems that would enable it to prevail in the event of conflict. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has relied on its technological superiority to maintain a military advantage while at the same time reducing the size of its forces. Over the past half-century, creating and maintaining a technologically superior military capability have become fundamental to U.S. national security strategy, and investment in S&T has become a basic component of the defense budget. In late 1998, Congress asked the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study, in cooperation with the National Research Council (NRC), on the S&T base of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Congress was particularly concerned about areas of the S&T program related to air systems, space systems, and supporting information systems. Its concern was based on the Air Force's reduction of its S&T program from the largest of the three military service programs to the smallest. Congress also wanted to ensure that the Air Force maintained an appropriately sized S&T workforce. In late 1999, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology asked the NRC to conduct a study to explore these issues.



Pre-Milestone A and Early-Phase Systems Engineering

Author : National Research Council

Publisher : National Academies Press

Page : 150 pages

File Size : 22,99 MB

Release : 2008-02-11

Category : Political Science

ISBN : 0309185424

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Book Description

The ability of U.S. military forces to field new weapons systems quickly and to contain their cost growth has declined significantly over the past few decades. There are many causes including increased complexity, funding instability, bureaucracy, and more diverse user demands, but a view that is gaining more acceptance is that better systems engineering (SE) could help shorten development time. To investigate this assertion in more detail, the US Air Force asked the NRC to examine the role that SE can play during the acquisition life cycle to address root causes of program failure especially during pre-milestone A and early program phases. This book presents an assessment of the relationship between SE and program outcome; an examination of the SE workforce; and an analysis of SE functions and guidelines. The latter includes a definition of the minimum set of SE processes that need to be accounted for during project development.



Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Aircraft Sustainment Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs

Author : National Research Council

Publisher : National Academies Press

Page : 254 pages

File Size : 28,62 MB

Release : 2011-11-17

Category : Technology & Engineering

ISBN : 030921520X

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Book Description

The ability of the United States Air Force (USAF) to keep its aircraft operating at an acceptable operational tempo, in wartime and in peacetime, has been important to the Air Force since its inception. This is a much larger issue for the Air Force today, having effectively been at war for 20 years, with its aircraft becoming increasingly more expensive to operate and maintain and with military budgets certain to further decrease. The enormously complex Air Force weapon system sustainment enterprise is currently constrained on many sides by laws, policies, regulations and procedures, relationships, and organizational issues emanating from Congress, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Air Force itself. Against the back-drop of these stark realities, the Air Force requested the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies, under the auspices of the Air Force Studies Board to conduct and in-depth assessment of current and future Air Force weapon system sustainment initiatives and recommended future courses of action for consideration by the Air Force. Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Aircraft Sustainment Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs addresses the following topics: Assess current sustainment investments, infrastructure, and processes for adequacy in sustaining aging legacy systems and their support equipment. Determine if any modifications in policy are required and, if so, identify them and make recommendations for changes in Air Force regulations, policies, and strategies to accomplish the sustainment goals of the Air Force. Determine if any modifications in technology efforts are required and, if so, identify them and make recommendations regarding the technology efforts that should be pursued because they could make positive impacts on the sustainment of the current and future systems and equipment of the Air Force. Determine if the Air Logistics Centers have the necessary resources (funding, manpower, skill sets, and technologies) and are equipped and organized to sustain legacy systems and equipment and the Air Force of tomorrow. Identify and make recommendations regarding incorporating sustainability into future aircraft designs.



Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher : National Academies Press

Page : 83 pages

File Size : 36,75 MB

Release : 2016-11-25

Category : Technology & Engineering

ISBN : 0309449030

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Book Description

While there are examples of successful weapon systems acquisition programs within the U.S. Air Force (USAF), many of the programs are still incurring cost growth, schedule delays, and performance problems. The USAF now faces serious challenges in acquiring and maintaining its weapons systems as it strives to maintain its current programs; add new capabilities to counter evolving threats; and reduce its overall program expenditures. Owning the technical baseline is a critical component of the Air Force's ability to regain and maintain acquisition excellence. Owning the technical baseline allows the government acquisition team to manage and respond knowledgeably and effectively to systems development, operations, and execution, thereby avoiding technical and other programmatic barriers to mission success. Additionally, owning the technical baseline ensures that government personnel understand the user requirements, why a particular design and its various features have been selected over competing designs, and what the options are to pursue alternative paths to the final product given unanticipated cost, schedule, and performance challenges. Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force discusses the strategic value to the Air Force of owning the technical baseline and the risk of not owning it and highlights key aspects of how agencies other than the Air Force own the technical baseline for their acquisition programs. This report identifies specific barriers to owning the technical baseline for the Air Force and makes recommendations to help guide the Air Force in overcoming those barriers.





Air Force Digital Technical Orders

Author : Ellen M. Fiebig

Publisher :

Page : 35 pages

File Size : 18,50 MB

Release : 2002

Category : Technical manuals

ISBN :

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Book Description

This twelve-month research study was a small part of a larger Air Force study to fulfill Department of Defense directives to transition to a digital environment for acquisition programs by the end of 2002. (Appendix A) The research study, which involved over 200 active and reserve jet engine aircraft maintenance troops at installations nationwide, was designed to support the Air Force strategy of "Global Technology Deployment" by providing and testing jet engine maintenance technical order manuals in digital form, and integrating the correct technology to utilize the digital application. In addition, it speaks to the cultural issues associated with incorporating a dramatic technological change. Participants were sent the latest version of the F-16 interactive electronic technical manual (IETM) software to use for a few months prior to testing "ruggedized" hardware. They were also sent a research survey, which measured the utility of the combination of software and ruggedized hardware. Finally, depot/vendor sponsored training on the software and hardware was provided at various installations. The study demonstrated the feasibility, using "ruggedized" hardware and advanced software combinations and the potential of expanding the use of other technologies into other areas of military logistics. Initial recruitment of participants was facilitated by the Air Force-wide deployment of IETM software to all F-16 Jet Engine Propulsion Maintenance Shops. The research survey and interviews proved to be useful for data collection, which allowed jet engine maintenance troops to express views and opinions on issues relevant to the overall Air Force Project. Of those participants that completed the survey, 90% indicated they agreed or strongly agreed that this was an effective method of maintenance. The research concludes with recommendations for developing and conducting future logistics technology research for the military.