Computer Resources Acquisition and Support for Air Force Weapons Systems
Computer Resources Acquisition and Support for Air Force Weapons Systems

Author: Larry R. Walter

Publisher:

Published: 1975

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13:

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The principal purpose of this paper is to review the current and proposed Air Force policy and guidance on management of computer resources in systems acquisition, identify some of the discrepancies between them and between the standards they implement, and discuss the prevalent problem areas. The purpose of the study group was to conduct an in-depth study of long-range computer software support required for aeronautical weapons system computers. The study was conducted in three distinct areas: Operational Flight Programs (OFP), Automatic Test Equipment (ATE), and Aircrew Trainers (Simulators). Some of the general conclusions were: a. Life cycle management is required. b. Organic support is a positive and necessary approach. c. Substantial benefits can be realized from standardization. d. Close coordination among software developers, maintainers, and users is essential. e. Hardware and software must be addressed jointly. f. A detailed implementation plan is needed for each area (AFP, ATE, Simulators) (4:10).

Weapons System Sustainment Planning Early in the Development Life Cycle
Weapons System Sustainment Planning Early in the Development Life Cycle

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2020-07-16

Total Pages: 99

ISBN-13: 0309675855

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According to the Government Accountability Office, sustainment of weapon systems accounts for approximately 70 percent of the total life-cycle costs. When sustainment is not considered early in the development process or as an integral part of the systems engineering design, it can negatively affect the ability of the Air Force to maintain and improve the weapon system once it enters service. At the request of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Weapons Systems Sustainment Planning Early in the Development Life Cycle identifies at what point or phase of the development of a weapons system sustainment planning should be integrated into the program; examines and provides recommendations regarding how sustainment planning should be evaluated throughout the development process; investigates and describes the current challenges with sustainment planning and determines what changes have occurred throughout the acquisition process that may have eroded sustainment planning; and identifies opportunities for acquisitions offices to gain greater access to sustainment expertise.

Weapons Acquisition: DoD Should Strengthen Policies for Assessing Technical Data Needs to Support Weapon Systems
Weapons Acquisition: DoD Should Strengthen Policies for Assessing Technical Data Needs to Support Weapon Systems

Author:

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 58

ISBN-13: 9781422308653

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Army and the Air Force have encountered limitations in their sustainment plans for some fielded weapon systems because they lacked needed technical data rights. The lack of technical data rights has limited the services flexibility to make changes to sustainment plans that are aimed at achieving cost savings and meeting legislative requirements regarding depot maintenance capabilities. During our review we identified seven Army and Air Force weapon system programs where these military services encountered limitations in implementing revisions to sustainment plans C-17 aircraft, F-22 aircraft, C-130J aircraft, Up-armored High- Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), Stryker family of vehicles, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, and M4 carbine. Although the circumstances surrounding each case were unique, earlier decisions made on technical data rights during system acquisition were cited as a primary reason for the limitations subsequently encountered. As a result of the limitations encountered due to the lack of technical data rights, the services had to alter their plans for developing maintenance capability at public depots, new sources of supply to increase production, or competitive offers for the acquisition of spare parts and components to reduce sustainment costs. For example, the Air Force identified a need to develop a capability to perform maintenance on the C-17 at government depots but lacked the requisite technical data rights. Consequently, the Air Force is seeking to form partnerships with C-17 subvendors to develop its depot maintenance capability. Its efforts to form these partnerships have had mixed results, according to Air Force officials, because some sub-vendors have declined to provide the needed technical data.

Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs
Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-07-29

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 030913918X

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The Department of Defense (DOD) spends over $300 billion each year to develop, produce, field and sustain weapons systems (the U.S. Air Force over $100 billion per year). DOD and Air Force acquisitions programs often experience large cost overruns and schedule delays leading to a loss in confidence in the defense acquisition system and the people who work in it. Part of the DOD and Air Force response to these problems has been to increase the number of program and technical reviews that acquisition programs must undergo. This book looks specifically at the reviews that U.S. Air Force acquisition programs are required to undergo and poses a key question: Can changes in the number, content, or sequence of reviews help Air Force program managers more successfully execute their programs? This book concludes that, unless they do it better than they are now, Air Force and DOD attempts to address poor acquisition program performance with additional reviews will fail. This book makes five recommendations that together form a gold standard for conduct of reviews and if implemented and rigorously managed by Air Force and DOD acquisition executives can increase review effectiveness and efficiency. The bottom line is to help program managers successfully execute their programs.

Sources of Weapon System Cost Growth
Sources of Weapon System Cost Growth

Author: Joseph George Bolten

Publisher: Rand Corporation

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 117

ISBN-13: 0833042890

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Previous studies have shown that the Department of Defense (DoD) and the military departments have historically underestimated the cost of new weapon systems. Quantifying cost growth is important, but the larger issue is why cost growth occurs. To address that issue, this analysis uses data from Selected Acquisition Reports to examine 35 mature, but not necessarily complete, major defense acquisition programs similar to the type and complexity of those typically managed by the Air Force. The programs are first examined as a complete set, then Air Force and non-Air Force programs are analyzed separately to determine whether the causes of cost growth in the two groups differ. Four major sources of cost growth were identified: (1) errors in estimation and scheduling, (2) decisions made by the government, (3) financial matters, and (4) miscellaneous sources. Total (development plus procurement) cost growth, when measured as simple averages among the program set, is dominated by decisions, which account for more than two-thirds of the growth. Most decisions-related cost growth involves quantity changes (22 percent), requirements growth (13 percent), and schedule changes (9 percent). Cost estimation (10 percent) is the only large contributor in the errors category. Less than 4 percent of the overall cost growth is due to financial and miscellaneous causes. Because decisions involving changes in requirements, quantities, and production schedules dominate cost growth, program managers, service leadership, and Congress should look for ways to reduce changes in these areas.

Computer Resource Management Technology
Computer Resource Management Technology

Author: Thomas H. McCormack

Publisher:

Published: 1986

Total Pages: 12

ISBN-13:

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The Computer Resource Management Technology Program (PE 64740F) is the sole Air Force engineering development program to focus on the problems associated with the acquisition, development, and support of computer resources within mission critical Air Force weapon systems. Engineering development is the final development and test of an operationally, technically, and economically desirable product. Mission critical systems are the airborne; spaceborne; command, control, communications and intelligence; and armament systems directly involved in the planning and execution of military missions. As the primary Air Force vehicle for transitioning the computer technology of advanced development work accomplished in industry, universities, and laboratories, the program's five continuing projects target the development and initial application of products which reduce software life cycle cost, enhance acquisition management control, and improve the quality and security of weapon system software. (Author).

Evaluation of U.S. Air Force Preacquisition Technology Development
Evaluation of U.S. Air Force Preacquisition Technology Development

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2011-04-01

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 0309162750

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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.

Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs
Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-06-29

Total Pages: 123

ISBN-13: 0309140846

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The Department of Defense (DOD) spends over $300 billion each year to develop, produce, field and sustain weapons systems (the U.S. Air Force over $100 billion per year). DOD and Air Force acquisitions programs often experience large cost overruns and schedule delays leading to a loss in confidence in the defense acquisition system and the people who work in it. Part of the DOD and Air Force response to these problems has been to increase the number of program and technical reviews that acquisition programs must undergo. This book looks specifically at the reviews that U.S. Air Force acquisition programs are required to undergo and poses a key question: Can changes in the number, content, or sequence of reviews help Air Force program managers more successfully execute their programs? This book concludes that, unless they do it better than they are now, Air Force and DOD attempts to address poor acquisition program performance with additional reviews will fail. This book makes five recommendations that together form a gold standard for conduct of reviews and if implemented and rigorously managed by Air Force and DOD acquisition executives can increase review effectiveness and efficiency. The bottom line is to help program managers successfully execute their programs.

Air Force Software Sustainment and Maintenance of Weapons Systems
Air Force Software Sustainment and Maintenance of Weapons Systems

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2020-07-09

Total Pages: 101

ISBN-13: 0309678153

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Modern software engineering practices, pioneered by the commercial software community, have begun transforming Department of Defense (DoD) software development, integration processes, and deployment cycles. DoD must further adopt and adapt these practices across the full defense software life cycle - and this adoption has implications for software maintenance and software sustainment across the U.S. defense community. Air Force Software Sustainment and Maintenance of Weapons Systems evaluates the current state of software sustainment within the U.S. Air Force and recommends changes to the software sustainment enterprise. This report assesses how software that is embedded within weapon platforms is currently sustained within the U.S. Air Force; identifies the unique requirements of software sustainment; develops and recommends a software sustainment work breakdown structure; and identifies the necessary personnel skill sets and core competencies for software sustainment.