Army News Release (Aug. 23, 2006): army reaches milestone in FCS modernization program.

ARLINGTON -- The Army moved closer to transforming itself into a more relevant, capable, and ready 21st-century force Aug. 11 when officials completed the In-Process Preliminary Design Review (IPDR) of its principal modernization effort, the Future Combat Systems program.

The IPDR is the latest in a series of program milestones that confirms FCS modernization meets the Army's cost projections, time schedule, and performance expectations. With requirements and functionality for all 18 FCS systems defined, hardware and software can now be designed and tested.

"IPDR represents the transition from requirements to design, build, integrate, and test," said Maj. Gen. Charles Cartwright, FCS program manager. "Within a year, FCS capabilities will begin to be integrated into the current force through our Evaluation Brigade Combat Team. The EBCT will provide a structure that will allow us to test, validate, and then deliver to our soldiers new capabilities that are specifically designed to address 21st century threats. Our Army and our troops require these new FCS capabilities sooner rather than later."

FCS modernization will now focus on delivering Spin-Out 1 capabilities to the EBCT, which will be stood up early next year at Fort Bliss, Texas, to evaluate, test, and refine Intelligent Munitions Systems, Unattended Ground Sensors, the Non-Line of Sight Launch System, and an early version of the FCS Networked Battle Command.

Both the FCS spin-outs and the EBCT are part and parcel of a concerted Army effort to deliver crucial new capabilities to the current force as soon as possible. Spinouts of FCS technologies to the EBCT will begin in 2008 and continue every two years thereafter.

FCS is a cornerstone of a more comprehensive Army modernization effort that also includes developing a more modular or versatile force, with greater joint and expeditionary capabilities. Toward that end, FCS includes a suite of 18 manned and unmanned systems, air and ground vehicles, all interconnected by a modern network to give soldiers unprecedented situational awareness and new capabilities to address 21st century threats. The 18 systems include Manned Ground Vehicles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, and such spin-out technologies as the Non-Line of Sight Launch System, Intelligent Munitions Systems, and Unattended Ground Sensors.

During the IPDR, each system team provided a detailed technical work plan for the next two years. The IPDR also included a review of all layers of the FCS Network, embedded training, modeling and simulation, logistics and supportability functions, and complementary programs.

The IPDR also demonstrated the maturity of the overall FCS baseline design concept. The review found that critical FCS technologies are maturing on schedule; program risks are well understood; and these risks are being actively--and successfully--managed.

FCS is the Army's first modernization effort in almost four decades. Program costs have remained steady and constant: $120 billion (FY03 constant dollars) for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT & E) plus procurement in the next two decades.

FCS modernization costs increased in 2004 when the Army increased the program's size and scope to speed the delivery of more modern capabilities to frontline troops.

The concurrent procurement of 18 systems in tandem has reduced system development and demonstration costs by an estimated $12 billion, while shrinking the development-to-field timeline by about 30 percent.

"Army modernization is saving taxpayers time and money, while giving our soldiers lifesaving, state-of-the-art capabilities sooner rather than later. This makes FCS the Army's most critical investment requirement," said Cartwright.