Technology base focused on 'rapid fielding' efforts.

• Author: Farrell, Lawrence P., Jr.
• Position: President's perspective - Editorial

Much has been reported in recent months on Army efforts to rush new technology to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, in response to urgent requests from commanders.

These "rapid fielding" initiatives have tested the Army's ability to expedite programs and to make the procurement system work better for the soldier. Among the developmental items that the Army and its industry partners have managed to speed to the field for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom are robotic mine detectors, advanced sniper rifles and laser rangefinders.

However, the Army recognizes that much more needs to be done to make the technology base more responsive to the operators.

The lessons from OEF and OIF only have intensified the sense of urgency that is driving the Army--as well as the other services--to revamp business practices within the science, technology and engineering communities.

The need and desire to better support the users were predominant themes last month at NDIA's Armaments Symposium in Parsippany, N.J., where a number of senior military officials and civilian Army leaders stressed this point repeatedly: The feedback from OEF and OIF provides further evidence that the industrial base is getting more agile, but that more work lies ahead.

A case in point is the standing up of a new Army organization that specifically will focus on reducing the time that it takes for technology to transition from the lab to the soldier--the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command. The RDE Command is scheduled to start operations in October, but a lot of work already has been under way to improve the integration and coordination of multiple program offices and laboratories.

The commander of RDE, Maj. Gen. John C. Doesburg, told the Conference that increased agility is needed, "to take advantage of technology opportunities and to solve immediate operational problems."

Some of these immediate needs that experts cited at the conference include:

* More flexible munitions, along with robotic reconnaissance and illuminator systems, to allow ground troops to conduct targeting without being exposed.

* Logistics tracking systems to ensure the right ammunition is delivered to units. Radio frequency (RF) tags work well, but only until the ISO shipping containers arrive in the field.

* Fuel-efficient vehicles, such as hybrid-electric ones, need to fully mature and enter production as soon as possible, to help the Army save billions of dollars in fuel...