Direct acquisition authority has allowed U.S. Special Operations Command to quickly and quietly deploy a heavily modified C-130 cargo hauler that can strike ground targets with precision-guided weapons.
The MC-130W Dragon Spear went from concept to flying with a minimum capability in less than 90 days and deployed in 18 months, according to SOCOM chief Adm. Eric Olson.
"This is light speed in the acquisition world, but we were able to do it because we do have the authorities and, frankly, the talent to make that kind of thing happen," Olson said.
The MC-130W has already deployed to Iraq and is now flying in Afghanistan, Olson said.
Unlike traditional acquisition programs, which are run by the individual services and overseen by the weapons buying division of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, SOCOM ran the development and fielding of the Dragon Spear.
"It was in some ways a pilot project for us," Olson said Feb. 8 during a presentation at a National Defense Industrial Association-sponsored conference in Washington, D.C. "We formed a joint acquisition task force within Special Operations Command, grabbed control of this project and have delivered."
The Dragon Spear program installs a gun, sensor and standoff precision weapons on the MC-130, an aircraft typically used for inserting special operations forces and aerial refueling helicopters. Unlike Air Force Special Operations Command-operated AC-130 gunships, the precision weapons allow the Dragon Spear to fly daytime missions - and at a greater standoff distance.
The four-star admiral also touted a system used in Afghanistan that involves an "airborne-mounted overt laser that projects a beam that illuminates a spot on the ground."
Commanders "are finding more and more uses for an illuminated spot on the ground," he said. "It can prevent fratricide, it can cause people to muster against a target, it can have a powerful psychological effect if you are standing in the beam." SOCOM officials are currently building tactics, techniques and procedures for the system.
In addition to these rapid-acquisition initiatives, SOCOM is preparing for some new weapons, including undersea and surface mobility, as well as air, land and sea remotely piloted systems.
For years, SOCOM tried to field the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS), a mini-submarine designed to carry special operations forces during covert missions. Although contractor Northrop Grumman delivered the first ASDS in 2003, the craft suffered from reliability issues and design flaws. The Pentagon scrapped plans to buy more mini-subs in 2006. The program came to a halt in 2009 after a fire burned out the vessel's interior.
"We're working on revamping our undersea mobility," Olson said. "We didn't focus on that for a while, but we're revamping that program."
As for maritime surface mobility platforms, the Navy's Mark V special operations boat "is reaching the end of its service life," Olson said.
SOCOM is also using a deployable solar-fueled system that can power a forward operating base. A prototype system is already deployed.
He also asked that programs designed to save people and money follow through with promises and younger people present these programs to him.
"I won't say they're completely unanswered," Olson said. "We've made starts in each of those areas, but largely we are still a community that's found ourselves unable to take full advantage of the potential of technological development, and I think we do it better than most of the rest of the [Defense] Department does. Even within the special operations forces, we've struggled to do that."
To accomplish this, cultural change is required, he said.
The MC-130W Dragon Spear went from concept to flying with a minimum capability in less than 90 days and deployed in 18 months, according to SOCOM chief Adm. Eric Olson.
"This is light speed in the acquisition world, but we were able to do it because we do have the authorities and, frankly, the talent to make that kind of thing happen," Olson said.
The MC-130W has already deployed to Iraq and is now flying in Afghanistan, Olson said.
Unlike traditional acquisition programs, which are run by the individual services and overseen by the weapons buying division of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, SOCOM ran the development and fielding of the Dragon Spear.
"It was in some ways a pilot project for us," Olson said Feb. 8 during a presentation at a National Defense Industrial Association-sponsored conference in Washington, D.C. "We formed a joint acquisition task force within Special Operations Command, grabbed control of this project and have delivered."
The Dragon Spear program installs a gun, sensor and standoff precision weapons on the MC-130, an aircraft typically used for inserting special operations forces and aerial refueling helicopters. Unlike Air Force Special Operations Command-operated AC-130 gunships, the precision weapons allow the Dragon Spear to fly daytime missions - and at a greater standoff distance.
The four-star admiral also touted a system used in Afghanistan that involves an "airborne-mounted overt laser that projects a beam that illuminates a spot on the ground."
Commanders "are finding more and more uses for an illuminated spot on the ground," he said. "It can prevent fratricide, it can cause people to muster against a target, it can have a powerful psychological effect if you are standing in the beam." SOCOM officials are currently building tactics, techniques and procedures for the system.
In addition to these rapid-acquisition initiatives, SOCOM is preparing for some new weapons, including undersea and surface mobility, as well as air, land and sea remotely piloted systems.
For years, SOCOM tried to field the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS), a mini-submarine designed to carry special operations forces during covert missions. Although contractor Northrop Grumman delivered the first ASDS in 2003, the craft suffered from reliability issues and design flaws. The Pentagon scrapped plans to buy more mini-subs in 2006. The program came to a halt in 2009 after a fire burned out the vessel's interior.
"We're working on revamping our undersea mobility," Olson said. "We didn't focus on that for a while, but we're revamping that program."
As for maritime surface mobility platforms, the Navy's Mark V special operations boat "is reaching the end of its service life," Olson said.
SOCOM is also using a deployable solar-fueled system that can power a forward operating base. A prototype system is already deployed.
Unanswered Challenges
The admiral noted that he has not "received satisfactory answers" to a number of challenges he posed to the defense industry back when he was SOCOM vice commander. Olson wants to know how the Pentagon's investment in simulation technology has reduced operational and training costs and how the investment in reach-back technologies has reduced the number of forward-deployed troops.He also asked that programs designed to save people and money follow through with promises and younger people present these programs to him.
"I won't say they're completely unanswered," Olson said. "We've made starts in each of those areas, but largely we are still a community that's found ourselves unable to take full advantage of the potential of technological development, and I think we do it better than most of the rest of the [Defense] Department does. Even within the special operations forces, we've struggled to do that."
To accomplish this, cultural change is required, he said.
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