Tactical ISR Technology Volume 2, Issue 5 • October 2012
Actionable Intelligence for the Warfighter Editorial Editor Chris McCoy chrism@kmimediagroup.com Managing Editor Harrison Donnelly harrisond@kmimediagroup.com Online Editorial Manager Laura Davis laurad@kmimediagroup.com Correspondents Adam Baddeley • Heather Baldwin Peter Buxbaum • Henry Canaday • Hank Hogan Leslie Shaver
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EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE The Enhanced Polar Satellite program provides the polar military satellite communications system that provides protected communications (anti-jam and low probability of intercept and detection) for strategic and tactical users in the North Polar region. EPS is the follow-on to the currently operational Interim Polar System (IPS) and is a component of the extremely high frequency SATCOM architecture providing secure, protected communications to worldwide users. The EPS acquisition consists of four segments (payload, ground control, gateway and terminal) acquired by separate procurement actions. Fiscal year 2013 funding is expected to be at Chris McCoy $120.7 million, with an additional $347.2 billion spent between FY14 and Editor FY17. FY13 plans include the integration of the two EPS payloads onto the host satellites. The Air Force had originally planned competitive prototyping for the control and planning segment as program development progressed. On June 18, the Air Force announced that it was waiving the competitive prototyping requirement, which it is permitted to do under the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. That act requires major weapons systems to include competitive prototyping before Milestone B. The waiver exclusions are permitted if “the cost of producing competitive prototypes exceeds the expected life-cycle benefits (in constant dollars) of producing such prototypes, including the benefits of improved performance and increased technological and design maturity that may be achieved through competitive prototyping; or (2) but for such a waiver, DoD would be unable to meet critical national security objectives.” The Air Force’s position was that the prototyping would cost an additional $49 million and that—per the regulation—would exceed the negligible life cycle benefits if prototyping would have proceeded. Money savings, especially as we certainly head into uncertain times, is very important, but does it trump the benefits and needs of the deployed warfighter? The Air Force also asserted in its waiver documentation that it would not be able to meet critical national security objectives without the waiver. Based on risk analysis, granting the waiver seems reasonable and consistent with the requirements of the law. It also seems to be a decision based on the best interest of the warfighter.
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