'Future combat systems' under cloud of uncertainty.Despite high-level endorsements from the Army's top leadership, "future combat systems" may never become the $180 billion procurement The fancy word for "purchasing." The procurement department within an organization manages all the major purchases. program that was originally envisioned. As recent comments by Army and industry officials suggest, FCS FCS - Frame Check Sequence more likely will be an amalgamation amalgamation /amal·ga·ma·tion/ (ah-mal´gah-ma´shun) trituration (3). amalgamation ( of dozens of technologies that the Army will gradually decide to buy or abandon. Insiders say the Army is even considering changing the program's name. "We are not waiting for a magical moment when this new thing arrives," says Lt. Gen. David F. Melcher, Army deputy chief of staff for force development, in response to questions about FCS during an industry conference. The cost of the war in Iraq and expectations of tightening defense spending raise huge questions about the future of FCS, industry experts say. "For the near-term, the Army cannot afford wholesale change but can afford incremental Additional or increased growth, bulk, quantity, number, or value; enlarged. Incremental cost is additional or increased cost of an item or service apart from its actual cost. improvements," predicts Michael L. Schany of General Dynamics General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2006 it is the sixth largest defense contractor in the world[1]. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. Land Systems, in a forecast report published by the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association. Email your comments to Editor@ndia.org |
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