ADVANCING NEW CAPABILITIES STAYING AHEAD OF OBSOLESCENCE
SUSTAINING LETHAL RELEVANCE
The U.S. Army faces similar challenges in sustaining electronics, communication and support equipment for Army weapon systems that are maintained for decades. Many of these weapon systems are past their original designed life expectancy with no set plans to decommission, which presents the Army with both financial and readiness challenges. By Alissa T. (Rese) Stevens, Obsolescence Service Lead, U.S. Army Materiel Command
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter prepares to lift an armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle after Soldiers from the 123rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, completed hookup procedures at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. Sling load operations test Soldiers’ ability to move equipment from location to location. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Edwin Petzke, 20th Public Affairs Detachment)
It feels like technology is progressing faster than ever Overcoming Parts Unavailability – and it is. As soon as a new technology is debuted to the public, developers are already working on the next new Where the consumer can probably operate their vehicle thing or upgrade. It can be seen in the consumer world, without the failed unit or can look to replace the vehicle in from cell phones to televisions to personal vehicles. A total, the Army does not have that option. If the system is decade ago, smartphones as we know them by today’s down, mission readiness is affected and lives can be lost. standards, didn’t exist. The car stereo has been replaced The Army needs to overcome the challenges of maintaining with an overall media display unit with other capabilities, system readiness on legacy weapon systems due to the like a navigation system, car maintenance status and availability of parts. Alissa T. (Rese) Stevens automated safety service. Per Army Regulation 700-90, the Army Industrial Base While car manufacturers would prefer buyers to Process, Army Materiel Command (AMC) is responsible replace their vehicles every three years, most consumers for managing Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and typically hold them for at least six years. Elements of the car, such Materiel Shortages (DMSMS). Likewise, obsolescence is a component of as components inside the media display, will become obsolete providing materiel and sustainable readiness for the Army. within these three to six years. If one of these obsolete electronic There are two primary options for addressing the obsolescence components fails, the car owner has several options to consider before issues of aging weapon systems: reactive and proactive. Reactively determining the best path forward. Can the car continue to be used addressing obsolescence issues as they occur comes with a hefty without the display unit? Do aftermarket suppliers have any residual price tag and a risk to system operational readiness. For example, in stock? Can a new model be installed in the car? Should the entire car 2008 when The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) be upgraded? As a consumer, the car owner explores and weighs each attempted to restore images taken from lunar orbiters, it found that the option to determine the best solution. components needed to read the magnetic tapes had been discontinued in the 1970s and it would be prohibitively expensive to manufacture
10 | Armor & Mobility | March/April 2019
www.tacticaldefensemedia.com