DOD SELECTS FOREIGN DEFENSE EQUIPMENT FOR TESTING
August 21, 2002
The Department of Defense has selected five new start out-of-cycle projects to receive fiscal 2002 funding under the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program. Authorized by Congress since 1980, the FCT Program is administered by the director, strategic and tactical systems, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.
The FCT program responds to a growing awareness of the value of using non-developmental items to accelerate the acquisition process and cut rising development costs. The principal objective of the FCT Program is to support the U.S. warfighter by leveraging non-developmental items of allied and other friendly nations to satisfy U.S. defense requirements more quickly and economically.
Given a world-class foreign item, U.S. user interest in the item, a valid operational requirement, and good procurement potential, the FCT Program reduces the acquisition cycle for fielding needed systems and equipment not otherwise available. At the same time, by promoting competition and eliminating unnecessary research, development, test and evaluation expenses, the FCT Program reduces total ownership costs of military systems while enhancing standardization and interoperability, and promoting international cooperation.
Each year the military services and U.S. Special Operations Command nominate candidate projects to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for FCT funding consideration. Each proposed project is screened to ensure the non-developmental item addresses valid requirements, a thorough market survey was conducted to identify all potential contenders, and the sponsor has developed a viable acquisition strategy to procure the foreign item if it tests successfully and offers best value.
Of the five new start out-of-cycle projects for fiscal 2002, one is sponsored by the Army, two by the Navy and Marine Corps, and two by the Air Force. A list of these new projects is attached. Additional FCT Program information is available on the FCT homepage on the World Wide Web at http://www.acq.osd.mil/cto/.
FCT Projects Selected for FY 2002 Out-of-Cycle Funding
Army Project
- Silverized Kevlar – Canada
Navy and Marine Corps Projects
- Assault Breacher Vehicle Mine Plow and Lane Marking System – Israel, United Kingdom
- Infrared (IR) Decoy – Canada
Air Force Projects
Summaries of FCT Projects Selected by OSD for FY 2002 Out-of-Cycle Funding
Army Project
Silverized Kevlar – Canada. This project would evaluate Silverized Kevlar developed by Silverleaf Materials Ltd. for use on the RAH-66 Comanche. This material could enhance the performance characteristics of the structure with regard to conductive ground plane, electro-magnetic interference shielding, static discharge, and achieve overall weight savings by eliminating layers of parasitic conductive materials.
Navy/Marine Corps projects
Assault Breacher Vehicle Mine Plow and Lane Marking System – United Kingdom, Israel. This FCT project would evaluate foreign, non-developmental Full-Width Mine Plows and Lane Marking Systems manufactured by Pearson Engineering and Israel Aircraft Industries, RAMTA Division. These subsystems will be integrated into the Marine Corps’ Assault Breacher Vehicle and tested to verify vendor performance claims and to satisfy the requirement for in-stride breaching capability, operational suitability, and shock and mine blast protection.
Infrared (IR) Decoy – Canada. This project would evaluate an IR decoy produced by Magellan Aerospace – the Canadian MJU-5188 liquid pyrophoric decoy. This decoy has the potential to have the spectral and spatial characteristics required to provide tactical aircraft with dramatically increased self-protection against IR threat missiles. The MJU-5188 was developed by the Canadians for use on their tactical aircraft and has demonstrated excellent effectiveness in Canadian tests against advanced threats.
Air Force Projects
Eagle Vision Satellite Imagery Receiving and Processing Station Sensor Upgrade – France. Eagle Vision is the Department of Defense’s only deployable commercial satellite imagery receiving and processing system. This project will evaluate the improvement in Eagle Vision performance achieved by incorporating 2.5-meter resolution imagery from the French SPOT 5 satellite. The Air Force Electronic Security Command, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., will conduct the test program.
Fiber-Optic Mesh Security Fence – Republic of Korea. This project would evaluate a perimeter fence developed by Youyang Airport Lighting Equipment that continuously monitors laser pulses to detect and locate physical intrusion with high alarm reliability and a low false alarm rate. This Korean system provides highly reliable intrusion detection and requires minimal maintenance. It can be placed on existing fences or walls or used as a stand-alone fence.