Affordability through commonality: Army and Navy programs coordinate acquisition of improved and affordable guided munitions - Acquisition of Guided Projectiles

Program Manager, Nov-Dec, 2002 by Capt. Herb Hause, Chris Grassano

* Standardized defeat criteria against standard target sets developed by the Requirements WIPT.

* Standardized arena performance test procedures for both unitary and submunition warheads.

* Standardized data analysis models for the calculation of lethal areas used to support Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual (JMEM) revisions.

* Developing common payload fuzing for ERGM and Excalibur that will lead to reduced cost in production.

BUSINESS CASE WIPT

The Business Case WIPT has developed Business Case models and tools to conduct cost-benefit analyses for component/sub-component commonality, and is developing strategies for future competitive procurement. They have also conducted Common Fill analyses (in conjunction with the Lethality and Payload WIPT) and determined cost benefits to the programs. The WIPT is currently coordinating common Foreign Military Sales (FMS) policy for guided projectiles.

The most recent all-up round ERGM live-fire test of June 25, 2002, at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) was a major milestone for Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) and all guided projectile programs. The ERGM round was fired at tactical launch pressure; all flight systems survived the 10,100 G (gravity force) gun launch and performed superbly. The round guided to the target 38.5 Nautical Miles down range (WSMR range constraints precluded longer range) to an accuracy of 4 meters.

Using the GPS/Inertial Navigation System for flight control and navigation, ERGM successfully acquired the maximum number of satellites, thereby producing terminal accuracy well within ORD requirements. ERGM remains on track for full land-based testing starting in fiscal 2003, and Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in fiscal 2006.

The primary goal of the Army and Navy Guided Munition Commonality efforts remains to provide the most capable and affordable guided munitions to the warfighter. As such, this dual-Service commonality initiative and cooperative organizational structure may serve as a model for future acquisition programs.

Editor's Note: Hause and Grassano welcome comments on this article. Contact Walmanjp@navsea.navy.mil.

RELATED ARTICLE: The XM 982 Excalibur is being developed by Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz. Excalibur will be a family of modular precision-guided extended range artillery projectiles with three distinct payloads. A unitary warhead will be used against personnel, equipment, and building targets in urban or complex terrain. A sensor-fuzed munition variant will engage self-propelled artillery and armored vehicles. A dual-purpose, improved conventional-munitions version will be employed against personnel, materiel, and light armor. It will be the Army's first artillery projectile guided by a global positioning system.

CAPT. HERB HAUSE, USN

Program Manager, Naval Surface Fire Support Program

Capt. Herbert R. Hause, USN, is currently assigned as Major Program Manager for the Naval Surface Fire Support Systems (NSFS), PMS 529, within Program Executive Office (PEO) Surface Strike, a position to which he was assigned in February 2000. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Management, Hause was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy on June 5, 1974. He earned his Surface Warfare designation in 1976 and Acquisition Professional designation in 1994.