Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?

Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?
Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?

“The Army has learned its lesson” from past acquisition disasters, said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who’s “very pleased” with FVL. This program is truly different, agreed one of the fathers of the cancelled Comanche, retired Maj. Gen. Rudy Ostovich.

Killer Angel On Your Shoulder: Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft

Killer Angel On Your Shoulder: Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft
Killer Angel On Your Shoulder: Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft

Manned air and ground forces would work together and protect each other along the front line, while relatively expendable drones and missiles go deep into enemy airspace.

Rebuilding Army Acquisition For Multi-Domain Battle

Rebuilding Army Acquisition For Multi-Domain Battle
Rebuilding Army Acquisition For Multi-Domain Battle

  Plagued by bureaucracy, budget cuts and canceled programs, the US Army is aggressively trying to improve how and what it buys by better collaborating with industry to innovate instead of evolving. A few simple changes to our current methods could have tremendous impacts on our ability to innovate and meet future challenges. A key could…

Holy Smoke! GM, Army Turn Out New Hydrogen Car In 9 Months…

Holy Smoke! GM, Army Turn Out New Hydrogen Car In 9 Months…
Holy Smoke! GM, Army Turn Out New Hydrogen Car In 9 Months…

AUSA: I’ve covered the Army since 1997 and detailed its acquisition disasters from Crusader to Comanche to Future Combat System to — oh, let’s not get depressed and stop there — and I could not imagine the Big Green Machine putting a contract together for a new vehicle in nine months, let alone issuing a…

Army Must Forge New Path on Weapons Spending

Army Should Break With DoD’s Modernization Strategy

Army Should Break With DoD’s Modernization Strategy
Army Should Break With DoD’s Modernization Strategy

The Army needs to break with DoD’s modernization strategy or risk being broken itself. Simply stated, the Army cannot afford to cut end strength and units in order to free up resources for modernization. This is all the more true if the modernization programs are complex, expensive and will take years to reach IOC. The…

What’s In A Name? Is Sikorsky’s S-97 A Helicopter?

What’s In A Name? Is Sikorsky’s S-97 A Helicopter?
What’s In A Name? Is Sikorsky’s S-97 A Helicopter?

WASHINGTON: When is a helicopter not a helicopter? The question arises because Sikorsky Aircraft’s new S-97 Raider got airborne for the first time the other day and company officials all but declared the dawn of a new age in aviation — or at least the birth of a new type of aircraft. “This was, we…

Army Takes On Requirements: ‘Everybody’s Got To Change’

Army Takes On Requirements: ‘Everybody’s Got To Change’
Army Takes On Requirements: ‘Everybody’s Got To Change’

WASHINGTON: “Everybody’s got to change.” That’s the message from Army Gen. David Perkins, about everything from concepts to training to weapons programs. “A couple of weeks ago, we had a meeting with the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff,” he said. “They said, ‘look, this is not business as usual.” “Everybody is going to have to…

Eurocopter’s X3 Is Cool Enough For James Bond; But Helicopters Aren’t On DoD’s Shopping list

MANASSAS, Va: Buzzing a runway in 200-knot low-level passes and steep, nose-up climbs, Eurocopter’s silver X3 hybrid helicopter looked like something out of a James Bond movie as it performed for the media in late July. The X3 (pronounced “X-cubed”) stopped off at Manassas Regional Airport as part of a U.S. tour that ended last…

The Magnificent Seven Weapons: ‘Awesome On A Shoestring’

Everyone knows military technology projects take forever and cost billions to produce, right? Just look at the Air Force’s latest fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor. The Raptor’s initial requirement was written in 1981, with the objective of developing an air superiority fighter to counter the Soviet air threat. It was declared operational in December of…