The Publication of Record for the Military Logistics Community
Air Force Global Strike command Special Pull-out supplement
Logistics Optimizer Lt. Gen. Frank A. Panter Jr. Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics U.S. Marine Corps
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August 2011 Volume 5, Issue 7
Interview with:
Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski
Commander Air Force Global Strike Command
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Military Logistics Forum
August 2011 Volume 5 • Issue 7
Features
Cover / Q&A Gimme Shelter Serving multiple purposes for the servicemember, portable shelters have become an essential part of expeditionary warfare. Military Logistics Forum spoke to leading shelter manufacturers about the state-of-the-art in shelter technology, asking what innovations they are using to evolve their shelter design.
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Tough by Design
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Rugged laptops and tablets have continued to expedite military logistics operations as they absorb the latest technology and meet the toughest military standards. By Cheryl Gerber
Red River Army Depot Supporting the soldier since 1941. By Red River Army Depot Public Affairs
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21 Lieutenant General Frank A. Panter Jr.
Air force global strike command Special PULL-OUT SUPPLEMENT
Exclusive interview with
Lieutenant General James M. Kowalski Commander Air Force Global Strike Command
Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics U.S. Marine Corps
Departments 2 Editor’s Perspective 4 Log Ops 6 People
Handling Choices
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The U.S. military’s requirements for lifting, pushing, pulling, loading, unloading and generally moving around a lot of heavy material are similar to civilian needs, but operating in very difficult and dangerous environments. By Henry Canaday
15 Log Leadership Lessons 18 Supply Chain 35 Calendar, Directory
Not Your Everyday Trucks
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The necessity of running supplies is constant and critical to operations. The modern versions of the deuce-and-a-half are getting the job done more efficiently and offering protection to the crews as well. By Peter Buxbaum
Industry Interview
Life Cycle Planning
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There is no substitute for choosing new programs wisely, which means including the total life cycle costs of all military assets, both current assets whose lives must be extended and new platforms, systems and components. By Henry Canaday
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36 Diane Giuliani Senior Vice President and General Manager AAI Logistics & Technical Services
Military Logistics Forum
Volume 5, Issue 7
August 2011
Publication of Record for the Military Logistics Community Editorial Editor Jeff McKaughan jeffm@kmimediagroup.com Managing Editor Harrison Donnelly harrisond@kmimediagroup.com Online Editorial Manager Laura Davis laurad@kmimediagroup.com Copy Editor John Marth johnm@kmimediagroup.com Correspondents Peter Buxbaum • Henry Canaday • Cheryl Gerber Steve Goodman • Kelly Fodel • Kenya McCullum
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How appropriate it is that the same month we feature a great interview with the Marine Corps’ deputy commandant, installations and logistics, Lieutenant General Frank Panter Jr., the Government Accountability Office issues a report critical of the service’s reset plans, while acknowledging the progress they have made in addressing the reset of aviation equipment; in fact crediting the Marines with a comprehensive, results-oriented strategic planning framework. With the hand that giveth, the GAO also taketh away. They fault the service for not developing a similar strategy for their ground equipment. The Marines are working the steps to develop an integrated strategy but Jeffrey D. McKaughan Editor-IN-CHIEF have not publicly said when they will have the plan in place. The point is to develop a plan that looks at the reset requirements in terms of near-term strategy but also as part of the Marine Corps ground equipment modernization plan. That being said, without a single guiding definition for reset that all services are using and interpreting in the same way, trying to measure progress or metrics common to all will be difficult if not impossible. While the report is focused on the Marine Corps, the most important recommendation that can be gleaned from the report is the indictment of the DoD that needs to develop and publish a DoD definition of reset for use in the DoD overseas contingency operations budgeting process. Once this is accomplished, then, with a common point of reference, the services can be measured against standards and know where the bar of expectation is. DoD and the services cannot take their eye off the warfighter. The need for strategic plan is not so that someone can fill in the right boxes on a form and hit the right metrics, but to have a plan that keeps the maneuver force operationally ready. All the services’ reset plans need to work within the budgets that are today’s reality—they need to wring the last drop of out of the budget for just one reason—the warfighter. Nothing else matters. As always, please feel free to drop me a line with any suggestions and comments for Military Logistics Forum.
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2011 Maintenance Awards The DoD has announced the 2011 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards for depot and field-level units. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The 2011 Robert T. Mason Depot Maintenance Excellence Award recipient is the Air Force’s KC-135 programmed depot maintenance (PDM) team at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. During 2010, the KC-135 PDM team made significant achievements in every segment of the production line, including numerous kitting programs that improved material availability and technician efficiency and continuous process improvements that affected several maintenance procedures. Their accomplishment of superior maintenance produced a record 55 aircraft and performed extraordinary maintenance feats to keep the over-50-yearold jets flying nearly 50,000 annual sorties in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and Horn of Africa missions. The depot-level award is named in recognition of Robert T. Mason, a former assistant deputy under secretary of defense for maintenance policy, programs, and resources. Mason served as the champion of organic depot maintenance for three decades and was instrumental in transforming DoD organic depot-level operations. A total of six field-level awards presented in three categories—large, medium and small. The recipients of this year’s Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Awards in the large category are the Marine Corps’ 1st Maintenance Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif., and the Air Force’s 31st Maintenance Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Winners in the medium category are the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, Naval Base Coronado, San Diego, Calif., and the Army’s D Company, 6-10 Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Campbell, Ky. Small category winners are the Marine Corps’ Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C., and the Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron 143, Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
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Situational Awareness Contract The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $65 million contract to provide tactical situational awareness to airlift aircrews, fulfilling an urgent operational need for enhanced communications and an operational picture of the battlespace displayed in the cockpit. Northrop Grumman will provide Air Mobility Command with 58 mobility air forces (MAF) dynamic re-tasking capability (DRC) urgent operational need systems, including spares, before June 30, 2012. The systems will be installed in 28 C-130J and 24 C-17 aircraft. The contract also includes two years of training and payload support at four integration sites in the United States and three overseas locations.
The MAF DRC system includes a secure line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight datalink, display systems for the pilot and co-pilot, a processor/server for command and control of the radios and displays, and presentation and recording of the existing host aircraft navigational system data. The contract was awarded by the Air Force Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. This Northrop Grumman effort for the Air Mobility Command is closely related to its work on the Real Time Information in the Cockpit (RTIC) program. Under a contract awarded in September 2010, the company is providing a RTIC capability for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command C-130H aircraft.
Truck Recapitalization Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation will recapitalize 160 trucks from the U.S. Army’s family of heavy tactical vehicles (FHTV) fleet, including heavy expanded mobility tactical truck (HEMTT) A4s and palletized load system (PLS) A1s, following an order from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC). Through its recapitalization program, Oshkosh will restore these vehicles to the latest configuration in zero-miles/zerohours condition at significantly less than the cost of a new vehicle. “Oshkosh is helping the U.S. military maximize its investments by extending vehicles’ life spans, restoring and modernizing them with the latest technologies and armor packages,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “As trucks have become more advanced—with better protection and improved power trains and suspensions—our recapitalization program has continued providing our customer exceptional value.” Since 1970, Oshkosh has remanufactured more than 11,000 military vehicles. In addition to recapitalizing its own vehicles, Oshkosh also upgrades vehicles originally built by other manufacturers. Oshkosh has refurbished more than 2,000 heavy-payload vehicles for the Army’s Theater Provided Equipment Refurbishment program. To recapitalize HEMTT A4s, the suspension is improved and a fully air-conditioned and armor-ready cab is installed, in addition to a more powerful drivetrain. The vehicles are fitted with new components, new technology and a new zero hours/zero miles bumper-to-bumper warranty. The HEMTT A4 is the backbone of the Army’s logistics and resupply fleet. It has a 13-ton payload capacity and is available in multiple variants for a wide range of operations. The PLS is the backbone of the Army’s distribution and resupply system. Built to transport ammunition and other critical supplies needed in battle, the vehicle has been used in frontline resupply missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. The latest PLS configuration features an armor-ready cab that is common with the HEMTT A4, as well as a 600-horsepower engine, electrical upgrades and incorporation of an Oshkosh TAK-4 independent front suspension for improved off-road mobility. Recapitalization of the HEMTT and PLS vehicles is expected to begin in March 2012 and is scheduled to be completed in September 2012. The order has a value of more than $50 million.
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Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
419th C/KC-135 and Counting The U.S. Air Force and Rockwell Collins commemorated the 419th avionics delivery for the C/KC-135 Global Air Traffic Management program at a ceremony at Kelly Field in San Antonio. The delivery marks the conclusion of a 100 percent on time, on budget program providing the Air Force C/KC-135 fleet with unhindered access to global air routes, enabling the tanker fleet with enhanced mission effectiveness while saving fuel. “This program set a new performance
standard for Air Force procurements with 100 percent of the upgraded aircraft delivered on time and within budget,” said Dave Nieuwsma, vice president and general manager of mobility and rotary wing solutions for Rockwell Collins. As the prime contractor and flight deck systems integrator, Rockwell Collins provided technology through an open systems approach that upgrades the aircraft with a variety of communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management products.
Rockwell Collins continues to support the Air Force in upgrading the C/KC-135 with new capabilities. In 2009, the Air Force selected Rockwell Collins for the engineering, manufacturing and development phase of the C/KC-135 Block 45 cockpit upgrade program. Under this contract, Rockwell Collins will further modernize the C/KC-135 refueling tanker’s flight deck with the latest generation autopilot, flight director, radar altimeter and electronic engine instrument display.
Renewable Energy Impact Projects Impact on Military Missions The Department of Defense announced recently that a comprehensive review of 249 renewable energy projects proposed in 35 states and Puerto Rico found that 229 have little or no impact on military missions, thus clearing the way for the future production of more than 10 gigawatts of renewable energy generation capacity. This review involved approximately 6,500 wind turbines and 30 solar projects. The complete list of the projects can be viewed at http://go.usa.gov/bce. These new energy projects will increase the nation’s energy security while ensuring that
our military services have the test capabilities, training venues, and equipment to help keep America safe. The DoD will undertake further studies and negotiations with developers, in consultation with the appropriate federal agencies and state and local governments of the 20 projects that may pose adverse impacts on military readiness and operations. The department’s goal in those negotiations will be to mitigate any potential adverse effects and allow the projects to move forward that are found to have little or no impact on military missions.
STG Receives Logistics Contract STG Inc. has been awarded a $3.25 million prime contract to support the National Warheads and Energetics/Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium Logistics Research and Engineering Directorate (LRED). Under the terms of the contract, STG will provide support in improving the reliability, maintainability and availability of government-specified munitions and armament systems while minimizing the life cycle cost and logistics footprint. “Using the latest technologies, STG will help detect and predict potential issues early in the design and development stages to mitigate their impact on the field,” said Jim Felter, STG senior vice president, defense sector. The logistics engineering services performed under this initiative will enable
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the constant measurement and improvement of logistics solutions for governmentspecified armaments and munitions systems. The Enterprise Systems Integration Center, LRED, Life Cycle Supportability Division has a commitment to developing and rapidly delivering superior armament logistics technology, products and services to the warfighter. “STG has supported LRED for many years in other areas of logistics and engineering analyses and has a well-earned reputation for providing unsurpassed support services,” said Simon Lee, STG president and CEO. “Time and again, we have shown that our analyses are accurate and concise and offer proven, repeatable results designed to evolve throughout their life cycles.”
Military Sealift Command Support Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) has been awarded a multi-year contract for the operation and maintenance of five container and roll-on/roll-off ships in support of the Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Prepositioning Program. “We are extremely honored and proud of this award. Winning this contract once again after our resubmission is a true testament of MSC’s trust in our capability and performance. We feel confident in our ability to support our customer’s requirements by drawing from our extensive operational and technical experience,” said Scott Cimring, MLL’s senior director of government ship management. These Bobo-class vessels, essential in the U.S. military’s readiness strategy, will be crewed by civilian mariners and deployed worldwide to preposition equipment and supplies at sea. MSC strategically places military equipment and supplies aboard these ships in key ocean areas to ensure rapid availability during military operation and humanitarian relief. This contract will begin in September 2011, and consists of a base period of 30 days with four one-year options. If all options are exercised, the total contract value will reach approximately $126 million, excluding reimbursable expenses and performance incentives.
MLF 5.7 | 5
Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
p e o ple executive assistant to the commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
Gen. William M. Fraser III
General William M. Fraser III has been nominated for reappointment to the rank of general and for assignment as commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Fraser is currently serving as commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. Brett B. Lambert has been assigned as deputy assistant secretary of defense (manufacturing and industrial base policy), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), Washington, D.C. Lambert previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense (industrial policy), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), Washington, D.C. Captain Matthew J. Carter, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Fifth/Seventh Fleet, Atsugi, Japan. Carter is currently serving as
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Captain Lawrence E. Creevy, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as fleet maintenance officer, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. Creevy is currently serving as executive assistant to the commander, Naval Sea System Command, Washington, D.C. Captain John G. King, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as commander, Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia/ Mechanicsburg, Philadelphia, Pa. King is currently serving as deputy commander for fleet logistics operations, N4, Naval Supply Systems Command, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Captain John C. Scorby, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla. Scorby is currently serving as executive assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations, and environment, Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger
Air Force Major General Janet C. Wolfenbarger has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as military deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Wolfenbarger is currently serving as vice commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Air Force Major General Clyde D. Moore II has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as vice commander, Air Force Materiel Command, WrightPatterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Moore is currently serving as the deputy director, Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), Arlington, Va.
Rear Admiral (lower half) Mark J. Belton, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, Williamsburg, Va. Belton is currently serving as reserve director, supply, Ordnance and Logistics Operations Division, N41, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Captain Scott A. Stearney, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command, Suffolk, Va. Stearney is currently serving as chief of staff, Strike Force Training Atlantic, Norfolk, Va. Army Brigadier General John R. O’Connor has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. O’Connor is currently serving as deputy chief of staff, G-4, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. Army Brigadier General Lynn A. Collyar has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Collyar is currently serving as director, logistics
operations, Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va. Army Brigadier General Gustave F. Perna has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general. Perna is currently serving as commanding general, joint munitions lethality, Life Cycle Management Command/Joint Munitions Command, Rock Island, Ill. Army Reserve Brigadier General Margaret W. Boor has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general and for assignment as deputy director for logistics operations, J-4, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. Boor is currently serving as the chief of staff, Defense Logistics Agency, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. AAR Corp. has announced that Andrew J. Schmidt has joined the company as senior vice president, supply chain, AAR Allen Asset Management. In this capacity, Schmidt will be responsible for providing strategy, business planning and operational leadership for the division and will drive initiatives to enhance the performance of all AAR’s aftermarket business.
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Gimme Shelter Keeping Mother Nature on the outside.
Providing comfort to weary warriors, a conducive environment for a command post or clean atmosphere for a medical treatment center, portable shelters have been a staple of expeditionary warfare.
Military Logistics Forum recently had the opportunity to talk to a few shelter manufacturers and gather the quick points about what they thought the state-of-the-art was for shelter technology and where they could go
from here. Each company was asked to address what technologies and design innovations that they are basing the evolution of their shelters on to meet the needs of the next generation warfighter.
Alaska Structures Inc. Don Diesel President, BLU-MED Division ddiesel@alaskastructures.com Alaska Structures Inc. (AKS) recently introduced a Solar Fly that can be installed over any Alaska small shelter or Alaska medical shelter. The AK Solar Fly utilizes an advanced netting fabric and a high strength lightweight aerospace aluminum alloy frame system. Eliminating 85 percent of the visible solar radiation, testing of the Solar Fly has proven its ability to reduce environmental control unit (ECU) power consumption by up to 17 percent during peak solar conditions. The Solar Fly kit only takes 10 minutes to install with two people. The proprietary material is lightweight, flame-resistant and resistant to degradation by UV light and mildew. AKS has also introduced a second energy-saving technology, the EnerLayer insulation system. Testing at White Sands Missile Range Climatic Test Facility has shown that EnerLayer installed in an Alaska small shelter or Alaska medical shelter will reduce the air conditioning required to maintain a 70 F interior temperature at 125 F ambient temperature by 22 percent. At cold temperatures of -25 F, the amount of heat required to maintain an interior temperature of 70 F is reduced by 35 percent. The insulation material
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is non-toxic, fire-resistant and reusable. EnerLayer is available as a retrofit kit or with new shelters, and installation time is less than 30 minutes with two people. The combination of EnerLayer and the AK Solar Fly provide a synergistic energy saving capability that, through realistic milstandard environmental testing, has been shown to reduce by 33 percent the air conditioning required to maintain a 70 F interior temperature at 125 F. It is estimated that the “payback time” for the EnerLayer and the AK Solar Fly is less than six months, and it can save up to 2,650 gallons of fuel per year for a single shelter with 5-ton ECU. More importantly, these energy saving products will reduce the amount of fuel convoys in the field, thereby reducing the chances of our soldiers and support contractors being attacked. Alaska Structures is the world’s leader in fabric shelter systems. Since 1999, AKS has delivered over 30,000 military shelters to DoD, the British MoD, NATO forces and the Australian Defence Force. AKS has a robust research and development division, and has recently focused efforts toward energy savings technologies.
MLF 5.7 | 7
HDT Global Mike Stolarz Vice President, Business Development HDT Global is widely recognized for its industry-leading production of state-of-the-art, fully integrated deployable solutions. The U.S. and allied military units stationed worldwide are currently using our systems, including shelter systems, generators, heaters and air filtration devices. In line with current U.S. government and Department of Defense initiatives to reduce power consumption, HDT has recently placed a major focus on energy efficiency. With an insulation factor inherent in the design of the Base-X and AirBeam shelter lines, many of HDT’s new products leverage that efficiency through power management and alternative resources. Several power-saving add-on products also contribute to HDT’s current mission toward energy efficiency, including the HDT Shade Fly and Radiant Barrier, which dramatically decrease shelter heating and cooling loads, lowering fuel consumption associated with environmental control technology. In addition to add-on shelter components that increase inherent efficiency, HDT Micro-Grid technology is at the center of the expeditionary system power management system. The HDT Micro-Grid is designed to greatly reduce or eliminate the need for generators and associated fuel. The focus of this effort is to develop advanced capabilities in power generation and power management with an emphasis on maximizing the benefits of alternative power sources, thereby reducing the reliance on fossil fuel-burning generators.
HDT Micro-Grid features: • Independent single-phase and three-phase micro-grids that will leverage the use of individual man-portable solar power systems for distribution to two and up to twelve shelters. • Incorporated expeditionary functional modularity. The system operates using man-portable or HMMWV towable components to increase mission flexibility. • Intelligent generator controls including methods for integrating the Tactically Quiet Generator family into the intelligent network as backup power and auxiliary power during periods of peak demand. HDT’s Expeditionary Shelter Systems, which encompass the Base-X and AirBeam lines, are turn-key, mobile facilities for command posts, hospitals, military living quarters, emergency medical treatment units, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear decontamination facilities, and operations centers requiring command and control functionality. Not only do the new shelter solutions save resources and money, they ultimately protect the lives of men and women in uniform, deploying 30 to 50 percent faster than other shelters on the market and reducing logistics requirements. HDT’s products are built for tough people performing tough jobs.
AAR Mobility Systems Phillip Adams Director of Sales The old saying, “nothing stays the same,” rings true when it comes to modern warfare. At AAR Mobility Systems, our shelters have evolved with the changing terrain to provide durable and secure environments for our soldiers on any battlefield. AAR has been in a continuous stage of evolution since we began manufacturing aluminum cargo pallets for the United States Air Force in 1963. We designed our first intermodal AAR ISU containers to maximize cargo per pallet position and protect it from the elements. Certified to DoD standards, our containers simplify loading and off-loading cargo from aircraft, and they are Helo-lift certified for delivery of loads to remote areas. In the early 1990s, our containers started serving as living quarters and command posts, as troops were deployed to the desert and better working conditions became a necessity. We modified our base products into a new line of Air Mobile Shelters (AMS) that include insulation, electrical systems and ECUs, while maintaining the functional loading and lifting characteristics of our pallets and containers. To minimize the footprint required to transport our shelters, we offer them as one- and two-pallet position shelters with optional soft- and hard-sided wing walls that can triple the usable footprint when deployed. Aluminum construction keeps the gross weight
8 | MLF 5.7
low so warfighters can maximize their payload, while promoting lower fuel consumption—all key challenges for transporting rigid wall shelters to theater. The warfighter can also benefit from our lightweight aluminum ISO shelters, which have been proven durable through 20 years of simulated usage at U.S. Army proving grounds, and have passed the MIL-SPEC-901D ship shock test. The use of aluminum versus steel typically translates into a weight savings of 2,000 pounds (non-expandable) to 2,500 pounds (expandable) per shelter. Once fielded, one user can be operational in less than 20 minutes in an environment that offers EMI 60dB shielding effectiveness to ASTME-1925 (an option available in each of our ISO variants), making them ideal for secure command and control and situational awareness ground stations. AAR’s newest offering for vehicle mounted shelters includes the Lightweight Multipurpose Shelter, which utilizes friction stir welding to promote superior EMI shielding and a new level of modularity. Panels can easily be shortened or lengthened to meet mission requirements. The most unique thing we offer our troops is a variety of products that go virtually anywhere, by land, sea or air. Wherever you are going, you can count on AAR Mobility Systems to get you there.
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hdtglobal.com
Better ideas. Better innovations. And better implementation to suit the needs of those in the field. At HDT, world-class engineering leads to world-renowned products through a process that pairs the brightest minds in the business
In the battle of brains vs. brawn, we opted to take both sides. with experts who’ve earned their stripes in the field. In the end, that means expeditionary systems and components that are as smart as they are strong. Just like the forces that rely on them to work flawlessly day after day.
SHELTER SYSTEMS
GENERATORS
HEATERS/AIR CONDITIONERS
NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
PARACHUTES
ROBOTICS
The concept of rugged computers is not new, but innovative technology has led to innovations. Image courtesy of Panasonic
By Cheryl Gerber MLF Correspondent Whether they are surrounded by sand and dust in extreme temperatures or accommodating atmospheric pressure changes from sea level upward, rugged laptops and tablets have continued to expedite military logistics operations as they absorb the latest technology and meet the toughest military standards. While rugged laptop providers have focused on specific military branches and areas of functionality, some processes, such as flight line maintenance, break across all branches, from Air Force aircraft and Army helicopters to Navy aircraft carriers. The environmental conditions differ and logistics functions range from simple to complex, but all the forces use rugged laptops for logistics in one way or another. MIL-STD-810G is one of several military standards that qualify notebooks and tablets as rugged. As the latest iteration of the 810 test series, it tests for a broader number of environmental conditions than ever before to certify the most rugged laptops. Achieving 810G means a rugged laptop can perform the checking, testing, tracking and repair in a variety of logistics operations and situations, including the most crucial, active missions. “Requirements for rugged laptops have become much tougher throughout the years, as lessons learned from the previous generation of product lines are built into specifications for the next generation technology and operational need,” said Julie Briggs, CEO of VT Miltope, Hope Hull, Ala. “We meet the 810G and 461F military standards, 10 | MLF 5.7
we offer a standard five-year warranty on our laptop products and we own and manufacture our own designs in the U.S.,” she said. The Army Maintenance Support Device (MSD) uses two VT Miltope rugged laptops, the RCLC-1 (Rugged Convertible Laptop Computer) with a 10.6-inch display and the RCLC-2 with a 14.1inch display. MSD Version 3 is a rugged automatic tester that performs quick diagnoses and fault isolation on the Army’s aircraft and vehicles while functioning as an interactive electronic technical manual on electronic technical manual reader. MIL-STD 810 and MIL-STD-461 are commonly used in the specification of requirements for the qualification of rugged computers. Among many tests, MIL-STD 810G, Methods 501.5 and 502.5, Procedure II, are used to test operating temperature while Procedure I of those methods is used for storage temperature testing. MIL-STD 461F is the testing specification and standard for military electronics suppliers, which covers inter-service operability issues. It involves conducted and radiated emissions and susceptibility. The Army MSD V3 uploads and verifies software to restore or provide new technology to weapons systems. It supports the testing requirements of the Army, current to future force weapons systems and operates at temperature ranges up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the rain, sand and dust. www.MLF-kmi.com
Photo: U.S. Army
Joint-capable in combat with 25,101 SyStemS DelivereD. When the U.S. Army needed a joint-ready, ultra-rugged computer for their Movement Tracking System (MTS), they turned to a proven winner. The DRS Joint Platform Tablet (JPT). Already fielded within other programs, the JPT’s innovative technology operates across multiple branches. Key among its features is the ability to be dismountable as well as provide in-transit visibility. And because it’s future-proof, it’s as battle-ready tomorrow as it is today.
Chosen For The U.S. Army’s Movement Tracking System. That’s Go To. DRS.com
Dell has a line of rugged solutions designed specifically for miliThe MSD falls under the Army’s Integrated Family of Test Equiptary customers. Their current fully-rugged E6420 XFR notebook has ment, At-Platform Automatic Test Systems. MSD-V3 (Version 3). It replaced the E6400 XFR—and each have met Mil Standard 810G is designed and tested specifically to withstand the harshest tactical specs and are built around our Latitude business notebooks. Addienvironments. “VT Miltope worked with Army maintainers and logistionally, they also have the semi-rugged E6420 ATG system used by ticians to establish the requirements for RCLC-1 that is the basis of military customers, though it is not fully rugged, offers top-of-the-line the MSD-V3,” Briggs noted. performance and help to increase the capabilities of an increasingly The Army uses DRS military rugged tablets (MRT) for its movemobile military. ment tracking system (MTS), mortar fire control station and intel“The Army has been one of our major customers as Dell has ligent munitions systems. The DRS MRT maintains communications developed and refined our rugged portfolio, but as we have refined our and location visibility of Army vehicles in theater. solutions, we’ve begun to span all of the armed forces,” said Trickey. “The MRT is a logisticians program, as it provides in-transit The Navy and Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard also use Dell’s rugvisibility to identify cargo with RFID tags which are on vehicles in ged products. transit,” said Bill Guyan, vice president, programs The Army is now leveraging commonality between and strategy, DRS Tactical Systems Inc. “On a map its MTS and Blue Force Tracking (BFT) systems, interface they can click on a vehicle to determine what sharing network management and operations while type of cargo is on that vehicle and where it is located upgrading technology. Responsibility for the two sysin transit,” he said. tems shifted in April to the Program Executive Office “These systems are meant to deliver three critifor Command Control and Communications-Tactical cal pieces of information to the soldier: Where am I? (PEO C3T), Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Where is my buddy? Where is the enemy?” said Guyan. Below (FBCB2) program office. “MTS identifies position, tracks progress, mainAs part of the FBCB2 program, ViaSat Inc. is worktains in-transit visibility of critical logistics assets and ing on the next generation of Blue Force Tracking for communicates with the operators of MTS-enabled Bill Guyan the Army and Marine Corps. The BFT-2 will bring realtactical wheeled vehicles through the use of positiontime networking for logisticians and warfighters with ing and commercial communications satellites,” said ViaSat’s next-generation transceivers, which provide Ralston Mims, deputy product director for the Army high throughput and position location information product office for MTS. refresh rates. “It incorporates global positioning system (GPS), “Part of the Army’s convergence strategy is comradio frequency identification (RFID) and non-linemonality in hardware and satellite transceiver as the of-sight communications and mapping technologies Army migrates to the Joint Battle Command Platform into a package that provides vehicle and cargo visibility (JBC-P). There will be a common look and feel to throughout the world,” Mims said. the user interface, interoperability between systems The DRS MRT meets MIL-STD 810F and 461E. In hardware and common communications hardware to addition to PCMCIA slots, the rugged tablet supports reduce support costs,” said Guyan. “The Army will be standard communication devices such as a TacLink Julie Briggs able to reduce costs by buying more satellite time with and PCIDM modems. The MRT can accommodate a volume discounts,” he said. GPS or additional radio system. The 10.4-inch XGA or The BFT-2 will give network users real-time position accuracy SVGA displays use 5-wire touch screens and are NVIS (night vision and situational awareness by using a ground vehicular transceiver imaging system)-capable. An anti-spoofing module is an option. or aviation transceiver to communicate with one of up to 10 satellite Impact and shock are the main threats to notebooks in the field. channels back to a satellite ground station. Dell, which recently launched its 3rd generation of rugged products, The BFT-2 will provide small satellite terminals for ground has gained expertise through close customer relationships and years vehicles and small aircraft and hub equipment for high-speed two-way of building and designing enterprise-class notebooks and computers access to ground and airborne terminals. FIPS 140-2 Level 2 data link have gone into the design of their rugged solutions as well. security will protect it from adversarial traffic analysis and data prob“Design points we at Dell have implemented such as solid state ing, while network operations center (NOC) equipment will provide HHDs, bumpers placed at the corners, as well as additional materials network monitoring and a backbone network will connect the NOCs are designed to better resist impacts,” said Joe Trickey, Dell’s rugged into an interoperable network. The BFT-2 will be integrated with and digital forensics marketing brand manager. “To further protect FBCB2 software and will provide engineering services in support of against shock or impact damage, we also use a composition polymer the BFT-2 network. over a mag alloy shell to ruggedize its notebooks which stands over The FBCB2 program office and the logistics community are workand above the mag shell used by our competitors. We have also harding on a new software version, the Joint Capabilities Release–Logistics ened another potentially vulnerable spot through our fully enclosed (JCR-Log) which uses the software and functionality of the combined fan design that allows the system to support the full range of processor MTS and BFT. The new software will provide two-way situational and computer power while keeping the system cool and also allowing awareness with maneuver force operations, embedded equipment for liquids to drain from the system. The bezel protection around the diagnostic and prognostic integration, as well as interfaces with display protects the display glass against impacts and scratches.” Global Combat Service Support-Army, Battle Command Sustainment Dust and water protection is another area of potential vulnerand Support System and Transportation Coordinators’ Automated ability that is protected against at the access points on Dell’s rugged Information for Movements System servers. solutions. 12 | MLF 5.7
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Computers · Disk Drives · Mass Storage · Printers · Network Communication Devices · Product Support for Military & Commercial Applications
MISSION READY. SET. GO. A Case for Rugged… As a mobile clamshell or tablet, VT Miltope’s new RCLC-1 rugged convertible laptop is mission-ready in any form. The RCLC-1 is an integral part of the MSD-V3 program developed for the U.S. Army’s At-Platform Automatic Test Systems (APATS) Integrated Family of Test Equipment (IFTE). Our family of HARD WEAR sets the standard for rugged military computing. Built rugged down to their core processors, our products improve warfighter’s ability to perform maintenance missions in extreme environments and challenging tactical conditions. The VT Miltope Family… mission-ready in the hangar, on the flightline, or on the move. MILTOPE.COM
When it is released in 2012, the new system for logistics tracking will be the principal command and control system for the Army and Marine Corps. As a vehicle-based tracking and messaging system, MTS incorporates the use of positioning and commercial satellites, two-way text messaging, digital maps, encryption, and military GPS and RFID technologies. The new system will enhance the ability to track vehicle locations while maintaining visibility of logistics assets and critical communications links between vehicle operators and systems control stations. “The Navy Seals used the fully rugged Toughbook CF-19s in the Osama bin Laden mission,” noted Tim Collins, director, defense and intelligence, Panasonic Solutions Co. “The CF-19 and the Toughbook 31 are 810G and IP-65 tested for dust and water incursion,” he said. A system with an IP-65 certification will withstand exposure to dust and water better than an IP-54 certification. The “6” in the Ingress Protection (IP)-65 rating indicates degree of resistance to dust, while the “5” refers to level of protection from liquids. The Air Force uses the Panasonic Toughbook 19 and 31 products for flight line maintenance and diagnostics. “They plug into the aircraft to download diagnostics information, interpret data for maintenance and analyze performance,” Collins said. The Army Maintenance Support Device (MSD) uses two VT Miltope rugged laptops, the RCLC-1 (Rugged Convertible Laptop Computer) with a 10.6-inch display and the RCLC-2 with a 14.1-inch display. MSD Version 3 is a rugged automatic tester that performs quick diagnoses and fault isolation on the Army’s aircraft and vehicles while functioning as an interactive electronic technical manual on electronic technical manual reader. In recent years, the Air Force has also been using Getac B300 and V100 rugged notebooks for logistics aircraft maintenance. The Getac V100 or V200 convertible notebooks can be used as tablets for diagram or schematic lookup with parts ordering via the touch screen, while the B300 is a laptop configuration. “Utilizing Getac’s high-powered 100mA Wi-Fi, the Air Force has a signal on the tarmac while working inside the fuselage of the aircraft. This allows for maintenance on the aircraft while ordering parts using the laptop in real time. The live connection also allows for full lookup of mechanical maintenance reference files,” said John Lamb, Getac marketing manager. The Getac B300 and V100 meet MIL-STD 810-G and 461F standards. “The V100 gives logiticians the ability to read mechanical maintenance reference files online while in planes or out on the Tarmac,” said Lamb. The GetacV100 notebook/tablet includes an Intel Core i7 processor running at 1.2GHz with Turbo Boost technology up to 2.26 GHz. The B300 rugged notebook contains a 2.0 GHz Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boast up to 2.8 GHz. Getac screens are based on an enhanced QuadraClear display. “The sunlight-readable display assists in viewing at high noon outside of an aircraft while the Wi-Fi is useful inside the aircraft,” he said. In May, Panasonic Solutions Co. pumped out the Toughbook 31 fully rugged laptop upgrade, with Intel Core i5 and i3 processors, increased RAM, speed and hard drive capacity, more than 20 hours of battery life, and a brighter, sunlight-viewable screen. The 31 also delivers the improvements in 3-D graphics needed for geographic information systems (GIS) and other graphics-rich applications. One month later, in June, PSC produced the latest version of its Toughbook 19 fully rugged convertible tablet with a standard voltage processor and Intel HD 3000 graphics. The device still does not 14 | MLF 5.7
require a fan and comes with 4GB RAM expandable to 8GB, running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 Professional. The 10.1-inch XGA touch screen on the latest Toughbook 19 has a Transflective Plus display with adjustable LED backlight. The LED backlight is useful in dimly lit areas or for concealed nighttime use. Anti-reflective, anti-glare screen treatments and a polarizing filter improve outdoor viewing. One of the latest technologies to enter the rugged mobile world of military logistics is the Android operating system, which is based on Linux. When Android mobile tablets first seized a portion of the consumer market, they did not provide the functionality needed for mission-critical military logistics environments, such as flight line maintenance. One issue was readability of the screens outdoors. Others were security and durability. However, the Android mobile tablet will go rugged and address those issues this year. One example, to be released in Q4 2011, is the enterprise-grade, Android-based Panasonic Toughbook H2 tablet. The daylight viewable screen will address outdoor readability issue by providing high brightness to allow mobile logisticians to see critical data and operate the device despite the lighting conditions. The rugged Android tablet will include an active stylus to capture signatures on the multi-touch display, a satellite-based GPS and full-shift battery life. “The Air Force is looking at the H2, has tested it and is now beginning to buy the H2 for flight line maintenance applications,” said Collins. However, while smaller handheld, rugged mobile devices will be useful for certain functionality, they will not likely be used for mission critical mapping or GIS, for example, where large screens showing both detail and context at once are needed. “Although there is a trend toward smaller and lighter mobile devices, like rugged handhelds and tablets, the devices are also becoming more application specific,” said Briggs. “The technology has enabled us to respond to many different requirements, including larger or smaller displays depending on the detail or resolution required,” she said. “The Army was standardizing on the 10.6-inch display but some users wanted a larger 14.1-inch display, so now they will buy both,” she said “We will see the 10.6-inch used for the at platform maintenance of Army systems such as helicopters trucks, heavy vehicles and missiles and the 14.1-inch display used for more detailed schematics in the back shop,” she said. As to what lies ahead in ruggedized technology advancements, Dell’s Trickey added, “I think that there are a lot of different technologies that are coming together that will impact the notebook and, by extension, the rugged market. Developments such as 4G,broadband, GPS, Wi-Fi that provide better connections, easier transitions between system global communications, faster productivity and data transfer will better allow those in remote areas to have the same work capabilities as those in protected environments. Combining this with improvements in graphical devices and the reduction in chip sizes that will allow rugged notebooks to have greatly increased capability similar to what you might find in high-end workstations, this will help to allow for powerful operations in rugged environments, maximizing what warfighters can do in forward environments.” O For more information, contact MLF Editor Jeff McKaughan at jeffm@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.MLF-kmi.com.
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By William J. Begert
General William J. Begert (Ret.) is the vice president for Business Development and Aftermarket Services for Pratt & Whitney Military Engines in East Hartford, Conn. As vice president, he is responsible for domestic and international military sales, assessing U.S. military requirements and developing business strategies for Pratt & Whitney’s military engine services. He is also responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul operations of Pratt & Whitney’s Military Aftermarket Services.
William J. Begert
Lesson in Logistics: A New Era is Dawning In any successful mission, proper logistics is paramount. I witnessed this firsthand when I served as director of Operations and Logistics for the U.S. Transportation Command. During that time, I learned whether you are planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of forces or the delivery of products and services, logistics is a critical part of that work. I discovered that, in the most comprehensive sense, most aspects of operations—which deals with design, development, acquisition, storage, movement, distribution, maintenance and disposition of materiel—are based on good logistics and planning. In today’s environment, logistics also means increasing efficiency, reducing cost, exploring markets and serving customers. In my current role with Pratt & Whitney, I see logistics covering a broad portion of our value chain. To manage the complex ballet of logistics, Pratt & Whitney has long been on the leading edge of material resource planning and then enterprise resource planning. Over the past 15 years, we have implemented the most comprehensive logistics in the aerospace industry. Using an advanced suite of systems, Pratt & Whitney has the ability to embrace the entire engine value stream from design and manufacturing to maintenance and overhaul. All the supporting functions, including purchasing, finance, transportation and even contracts, are managed in a seamless and integrated environment. This allows for further optimization of cost and time to bring value to our customers. At Pratt & Whitney, we believe the support we provide to our military customers is the most important product we deliver. In addition to our broad range of military propulsion systems, we offer customers a range of tailored fleet management programs for operating their fleets with the optimum mix of organic capability, world-class expertise and the efficiency of economy of scale. Our management products range from basic order fulfillment to complete fleet management systems. With fleet management programs, Pratt & Whitney also offers comprehensive management of all aspects of engine operation and overhaul. We provide quality maintenance service and state-of-the-art material management and supply chain management systems, which
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offer complete contractor-furnished material supply capability. By using contractor-furnished material, our customers take advantage of our strength in vendor and distributor relationships to minimize delays in parts delivery and reduce overall cost. Using these tools, we have achieved high customer satisfaction ratings while providing an affordable solution for maintaining the readiness of their fleets. Good logistics requires concerted efforts from our employees, our suppliers and customers. Our strength comes from combining lessons learned from our proven fielded programs with new technologies, materials and manufacturing processes to design, produce and deliver quality propulsion systems to our customers. As proud as we are of our logistics, we know it is possible to further bolster the visibility, control and capacity of our supply chain and distribution pipeline. We continue to streamline and optimize our global supply chain by reaching out to many of our suppliers and giving them the tools and systems to provide parts and services on time and at the highest levels of quality. We are not resting on our laurels. We continually seek out best practices and lessons learned by benchmarking companies from across many industries and enterprises. We know budgetary pressures continue to intensify and logistics is likely to become more of a differentiator. Our company therefore has to achieve even greater efficiencies and lower cost to maximize our operational advantage and provide the best value to our customers. A new era of logistics is dawning. Logistics now requires more precise accounting of consumption and replenishment for maximum efficiency and minimum burden on the supply system. In the future, I believe we will see more products delivered as needed and see better planning of the supply chain. Today’s information technology capabilities have made this vision possible, and tomorrow’s demand for efficiency has made the need urgent. With fiscal challenges looming in the future, Pratt & Whitney will be prepared to deliver across a wide variety of contingencies. We are paying attention to the long-term consequences of our decisions to make sure we have the right products, services and logistics in place to support our men and women in uniform. O
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Red River Army Depot Supporting the soldier since 1941. Though the mission and capabilities of Red River Army Depot have changed over the past 70 years, the resounding focus to provide the soldier with quality products and service has not altered. RRAD has risen to the challenge of every United States military conflict since 1941. The depot was originally established as an ammunition storage facility; however, due to the demands of World War II, the mission was expanded to include general supply storage and tank repair. Today, a dedicated workforce of more than 4,000 people are engaged in work ranging from producing timber to remanufacturing the mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle. The depot occupies 18,703 acres, making it one of the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s (AMC) largest supply and maintenance installations. RRAD is carved from 116 East Texas farms and ranches, and once even belonged to the mighty Caddo Indian Nation. More than 1,186 buildings/structures can accommodate repair/overhaul of electronic systems, heavy combat and wheeled vehicles. The depot is the largest employer in the greater Texarkana and surrounding areas. “The support from the community continues to help push Red River Army Depot forward,” said RRAD commander Colonel Doyle Lassitter. “The strong bond between the depot, the community and its leaders is a driving force in the mission that we carry out for the soldier.”
We Build It As If Our Lives Depend On It—Theirs Do! RRAD is recognized as the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for tactical wheeled vehicles, the Bradley fighting vehicle and multiple launch rocket system. The depot has the only Department of Defense capability for the remanufacture of road wheels and tracked vehicle systems. Using state-of-the-art, environmentally safe equipment, RRAD’s rubber product operation removes worn rubber and replaces it. RRAD leads the way in support of the MRAP program as the depot source of repair as well as the fabrication of the rollover egress system, the MRAP Egress Trainer or MET. The depot also continues to support soldiers in the field with deployments to Southwest Asia to maintain MRAPs and other vehicle systems. “While in Iraq, we had a MRAP RG-33 come in the yard that had sustained a substantial blast,” said Stephanie Jackson, a RRAD welder. “It totally destroyed the vehicle, but we were told that every soldier walked away from it. It’s a good feeling knowing that the work I do helps to save soldiers’ lives.” 16 | MLF 5.7
In addition to being the depot source of repair for the MRAP, RRAD is also the host installation for the joint services’ MRAP University. MRAP-U is a one-stop shop providing a unique cross-training platform to prepare instructors and maintenance personnel with the knowledge to conduct field-level support on the MRAP family of vehicles. Over 350 students attend the university each day and are afforded the opportunity to gain knowledge and become familiar with any MRAP model no matter the manufacturer. The high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) production facility has achieved many milestones since its introduction at the depot. In 2004, the HMMWV production line only produced three vehicles per week. After adopting Lean Six Sigma processes, the production line achieved 32 vehicles per day in February 2006. In May 2007, the depot celebrated the production of the 10,000th HMMWV. The depot also remanufactures and rebuilds the armored security vehicle, family of medium tactical vehicles, high mobility artillery rocket system, multiple configurations of trailers and many other major components. Workload will increase in the next year as the depot is postured to overhaul and reset approximately 60 percent of the equipment returning from Southwest Asia.
Ready, Willing and Deployable For the last 10 years, America has been in a constant state of conflict. RRAD is proud to play a very significant role in supporting the soldier, not only providing the highest quality of equipment, but also with extremely capable deployed employees. What once consisted of a dedicated workforce located only in Northeast Texas is now an extended workforce located around the globe. RRAD is responsible for over 5,000 civilian deployments to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq in direct support of the soldiers in the field. Approximately half of all AMC civilian deployments have come from RRAD. With the success of several fielding sites already in place, Red River was tasked to spearhead Stored Theater Provided Equipment-Iraq (STPE-I) at ‘Camp Armordillo’ in 2010. The mission of STPE-I is to maintain 169 combat-tracked vehicles that are fully mission-capable. Team members accomplishing this mission are highly skilled technicians specifically selected for their expertise and extensive knowledge of the systems to be serviced. All are volunteers and many have agreed to stay with the mission for multiple six-month tours. “Overall, the mission is very rewarding,” www.MLF-kmi.com
said John Moore, former RRAD STPE-I site manager. “As depots, we are able to go to the soldier, use our skills and assist the soldier in carrying out their mission. As Department of the Army civilians, that is our ultimate goal.” Currently, there are nearly 500 RRAD employees supporting the soldier in theater.
Beyond the Production Floor RRAD was the first depot within AMC to achieve ISO 9001:2000 certification throughout all administrative and production processes. The 9001:2000 certification gives emphasis to RRAD’s quality management systems. In 2008, RRAD achieved ISO 14001:2004 registration for Environmental Management Systems. This registration emphasizes Red River’s commitment to the local community as the depot maintains positive environmental conditions for the future. Intertwined in the production of quality vehicles is safety. The depot has shifted from the risk-based view to the behavior approach and is in return better able to identify potential hazards and mitigate them before an accident occurs. In October 2011, RRAD will enter the last steps to achieve OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) star status. VPP recognizes employers in private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. Implementation of the Red River Operating System is just another way RRAD continues to move business forward. The RROS is the common order-to-delivery process to achieve health, safety, environmental, quality and productivity goals of the depot. It is a system that encompasses the way RRAD conducts business on a daily basis, from operations on the production floor to meetings with the commander. By using RROS, Red River is able to communicate the mission of the depot using a unified language.
Committed to Excellence RRAD is a first-class, award-winning organization. The depot was named runner-up for the 2010 and 2011 Army Chief of Staff Maintenance Excellence Award for depot maintenance. In 2009, RRAD became the first Army installation to be the two-time recipient of the Secretary of Defense Robert T. Mason Award for Depot Maintenance Excellence. The depot received the prestigious Mason award in 2006 for the HMMWV program and in 2009 for support of the MRAP program. In 2006, RRAD began its journey submitting Shingo Prize Award packages—an award that recognizes excellence in manufacturing—the Shingo Award is given annually in four levels of recognition (Shingo Prize, Gold, Silver and Bronze) throughout public and private business sectors. RRAD is the eight time recipient of the Shingo Award in the following production areas: • • • • • •
2009: Bronze Shingo Medallion for the 1113/1114 Armored HMMWV/HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer (HEAT) 2008: Silver Shingo Medallion for the Heavy Expanded Medium Tactical Truck (HEMTT) 2008: Bronze Shingo Medallion for the Patriot Missile 2008: Bronze Shingo Medallion Recipient for the Trailers 2007: Gold Shingo Medallion for the HMMWV 2007: Silver Shingo Medallion for the HEMTT
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• 2007: Silver Shingo Medallion for the Bradley Power Train • 2006: Silver Shingo Medallion for the HMMWV In addition to these awards, RRAD also received the 2011 IHS Spectrum Excellence Award for outstanding achievements in the use of advanced information systems and best practices to achieve environmental, health and safety and enterprise sustainability business goals. RRAD Safety Office chief, Bonnie Lewis, was also the recipient of the 2010 Army Individual Award for Excellence in Safety. The award is given for exemplary achievements in Safety and Occupational Health by AMC to the individual who makes the most significant contribution to accident prevention. The depot is the two-time recipient of the Department of the Army Best Antiterrorism Program-Fixed Installation Award in 2008 and 2009. In 2006, the depot received the Defense Logistics Agency Department of Defense Customer of the Year Award as well as the Army Superior Unit Award.
Partnering for the Soldier Red River is teaming with over 20 defense contractors and engaged in over 100 partnering contracts. RRAD is the host to 10 tenant organizations, the largest being the Defense Logistics Agency-DistributionRed River that stores secondary items valued at over $6 billion. In May 2011, Texarkana College and TexAmericas Center, both located in the greater Texarkana area, joined forces to open a training facility for RRAD employees. The training center, which is located near the depot, specializes in heavy equipment operations including training for Caterpillar engines, Allison transmissions and dynamometers. Courses are also available for mechanics, welding, machinery, CPR, first aid, hazardous waste operations and emergency response. “The training center partnership permits the depot to provide our workforce with superior training opportunities,” said RRAD Deputy Commander Patton Tidwell. “We want to remain progressive and proactive in our training methods and continue to strive forward in today’s technologydriven world.”
On the Horizon Meeting all challenges and defeating all obstacles is the underlying characteristic of the RRAD workforce. Throughout the years, Red River has experienced great success providing a unique workforce of trained, certified, diversified, deployable and skilled employees dedicated to our nation’s defense. As always, RRAD holds fast to its ongoing commitment to its customers that we will continue our process improvement quest to provide the highest quality products available. “Just as in the past, we are prepared to adapt our ever-evolving processes to meet the requirements of our nation and the soldiers that depend on us to reset and rebuild the vitally important equipment used to conduct combat operations and to support the training of units preparing for combat,” said Lassitter. “Our job is to continue to strengthen our team with our community, our employees, our contractors and our business partners. We must continue to build quality products that meet the timelines supporting our soldiers and the needs of our military and our nation.” O For more information, contact MLF Editor Jeff McKaughan at jeffm@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.MLF-kmi.com.
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Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
High-Def Touch Screens Crestron recently announced that the V24-C 24-inch HD touch-screen display, the latest addition to its family of high-definition V-Panel touch screens, is now available. The V24-C blends full touch-screen navigation, high performance graphics and HD video with DigitalMedia 8G+ connectivity and a 24-inch high-definition widescreen display. Bringing media and control functions together, V24-C combines separate touch screens, TV displays and computer monitors into one HD touch-screen display. While simultane-
ously controlling the home or other facility, V24-C, connected to a Crestron DGE-2 digital graphics engine, provides everything needed to access digital media content, enjoy online videos and music, surf the Web, perform realtime onscreen annotation, and more without requiring a separate computer. Full HDCP support makes V-Panel the only touch screen that enables reliable viewing of content-protected DVD, Blu-ray disc, digital HDTV, streaming video and multimedia computer sources.
Above Ground Wash Rack U.S. Marines are using wash racks not only to wash equipment and vehicles that require maintenance but also to apply corrosion control inhibitors; thus the name, VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor) wash racks. To build a concrete equipment wash rack requires architectural design, PE stamps, building permits and bids from contractors to build the wash rack. Once the construction of the concrete wash rack is completed, it becomes a permanent fixture. Hydro Engineering has developed and patented the Hydropad above ground equipment wash racks, which do not require an architectural design, permitting or construction of any kind. Hydropad instant wash racks are equipment and not a capital construction project. According to the company, another advantage is that an above ground wash rack can be moved when required. The systems, as installed at multiple Marine sites, included: Hydrosite, equipment enclosures; these act as portable or permanent equipment rooms and also provide for factory installed and tested equipment, HVAC, backup heating and lighting. The complete system is UL and CE certified; Hydroblaster pressure washing equipment; VCI application system; Hydrokleen water filtration and recycling equipment that will treat all collected water; Hydropad above ground wash pads with splash control walls; and generators to (when no local power is available). As far as owner-supplied utilities, only a water supply connection is required. Hydro Engineering Inc. provides portable power and because these wash systems are not connected to a sewer, no sewer connection is required—100 percent of all collected water is continuously filtered and recycled back to the Hydroblaster wash equipment. The Hydropad steel equipment wash rack meets the first requirement of a storm water pollution prevention plan for a wash rack. From here, wash water can be filtered via Hydro Engineering Inc. waste water filtration equipment and recycled for continued use.
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Engineered to work with Crestron DigitalMedia 8G+ systems, the DGE-2 graphics engine (and related AV source wiring) is hidden up to 330 feet away at the main equipment rack. All uncompressed HD audio/video, control, Ethernet and USB HID signals are transported directly to the V24-C through a single CAT5e wire or DM 8G cable without the need for a separate receiver. The single-wire connectivity, together with V24-C’s slim design, produces clean installations.
Camp Arifjan Asset Visibility Cubic Global Tracking Solutions, the asset visibility solutions provider of Cubic Corporation, is providing new wireless mesh network technology to the U.S. Army for tracking military vehicles and equipment at the Armys Camp Arifjan wash rack, located near Kuwait City, Kuwait. Cubic GTS and prime contractor ARINC Engineering Services LLC successfully demonstrated their mesh network tracking solution in early 2011 under the Army Logistics Innovation Agency’s asset visibility program known as Next Generation Wireless Communications for Logistics Applications (NGWC). In June, Cubic delivered 2,000 new mesh network asset tags at Camp Arifjan. The Logistics Innovation Agency, in concert with Army Sustainment Command and Army Central Command, is implementing the Army Mobility Asset Tracking System (AMATS), which integrates cutting-edge wireless communications with sensors to provide a secure, wireless, automatic identification network. Cubic GTS technology is at the heart of the AMATS system. Its small, battery-powered mesh asset
tags with GPS receivers are attached to vehicles at Camp Arifjan and automatically connect wirelessly with one another to form a mesh network. The precise location of any tag can be determined by searching for its serial number in the Cubic GTS device management center, a central database of all tags in operation. The ARINC/Cubic NGWC asset tracking solution is now helping to track and organize thousands of U.S. military vehicles at Camp Arifjan, including tanks, MRAPS, HMMWVs, trucks and other vehicles and equipment being redeployed from Iraq as the U.S. draws down its forces. At Camp Arifjan, the tracking operations are run by the 2-401st Army Field Support Brigade. “This implementation of Cubic GTS mesh networking is part of an end-to-end asset-tracking concept being developed with the U.S. Army’s Logistics Innovation Agency,” said Mary Ann Wagner, president of Cubic Global Tracking Solutions. “The goal is to provide enhanced logistics situational awareness and global, near-real-time asset visibility across the Department of Defense distribution networks.” www.MLF-kmi.com
Project Workhorse UGV Off to Afghanistan The U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force, through the Robotics Technology Consortium, selected the Lockheed Martin Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) to deploy to Afghanistan for a first-of-its-kind military assessment. SMSS will deploy as the winner of the Project Workhorse Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) competition sponsored by the Army. The largest autonomous vehicle ever to be deployed with infantry, the 11-foot-long SMSS can carry more than a half-ton of a squad’s equipment on rugged terrain, easing the individual soldier’s burden, which can often exceed 100 pounds. “SMSS is the result of more than a decade of robotic technology development, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate this capability in theater, where it can have an immediate impact at the squad level,” said Scott Greene, vice president of ground vehicles in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business. “The Army has tested the system’s capabilities in three domestic user assessments, and SMSS has been deemed ready to deploy.” As part of the three-month military utility assessment (MUA), four vehicles and a field service representative will support light infantry in theater as the service evaluates how autonomous vehicles can support or ease the equipment burden for deployed troops. A fifth vehicle and an engineering team will remain in the U.S. for analysis and additional support. The Army plans to begin the Afghanistan assessment late this year, after a period of evaluations and training. A fully-loaded SMSS is internally transportable on board CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters, providing new logistics capability to light and early-entry forces. The SMSS Block I variant, which will be deployed, has a range of 125 miles and features three control options: supervised autonomy,
tele-operation or manually driven. The SMSS sensor suite allows it to lock on and follow any person by recognizing their digital 3-D profile (captured by the onboard sensors), and it can also navigate terrain on its own following a trail of GPS waypoints. In addition to a month-long MUA at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2009, SMSS has been selected for further evaluation as part of the Army’s Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) Spiral G in November this year. While SMSS has already demonstrated its ability to reduce soldier loads and provide portable power, the November experiment will evaluate its ability to field a reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition mission equipment package.
Refrigerated Container System Mainstream Engineering Corp. has been awarded a sole-source contract to provide both the U.S. Army and Air Force with the next-generation, multi-functional Tricon Refrigerated Container System (TRCS). With a potential value of $40 million, the five-year contract calls for the delivery of insulated Tricon containers (both Army and Air Force versions) equipped with Mainstream’s new high-performance/energyefficient modular refrigeration unit. The TRCS is designed to support the standard Force Provider 550-man base camp. Tricons are much-relied-on transportable storage units
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that offer a wide range of options for medical, field kitchen, electronics and equipment applications. These highly versatile shipping containers can be configured so that three units secured together occupy the identical footprint as a standard 20-foot ISO intermodal container. TRCS units are also ideal for disaster relief and third-world humanitarian operations. “The contract award represents the culmination of the many advancements that we have achieved in the development of thermal control technologies with compact form factors,” said Robert P. Scaringe, Ph.D.,
president of Mainstream Engineering. This contract, along with an earlier award for the development and manufacture of improved environmental controls units, represents more than $100 million in new production contracts awarded to Mainstream in the last nine months. These commercial off-the-shelf products are a result of Mainstream’s successful commercialization of an earlier Army small business innovation research (SBIR) grant. Mainstream leads the Department of Defense in SBIR commercialization with a 100 percent rating on the Commercialization Index.
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EXTENDING A LIFELINE TO THE
FRONTLINE
Š 2011 Lockheed Martin Corporation
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Logistics Optimizer
Q& A
Optimizing and Aligning Equipment Reset Strategies to Meet Requirements Lieutenant General Frank A. Panter Jr. Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Panter is presently serving as the Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics, Washington, D.C. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in August 1968, he served until 1972. This included a tour in the Republic of Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division. After graduating in 1975 from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology, he entered Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in July 1975. Following Basic School in 1976, now-second lieutenant Panter attended the Basic Combat Engineer Course. He then served as a combat engineer and shore party platoon commander, Alpha Company, 3d Combat Engineer Battalion, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, participating in several deployments throughout the Western Pacific. Transferred in July 1979 to the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Ga., Panter, now a captain, served as the commanding general’s aidede-camp until 1982. Panter then served as inspector-instructor for headquarters and service company and assistant battalion inspectorinstructor, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Portland, Ore., until 1986. He was later assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., as an acquisition project officer for engineer equipment. In 1990 Major Panter was transferred to Okinawa, Japan and served as the operations officer and later as the executive officer for 3d Combat Engineer Battalion, 3d Marine Division. After being promoted to lieutenant colonel, he assumed command of the 3d Combat Engineer Battalion. While at 3d Combat Engineer Battalion he participated in Operation Fiery Vigil, providing disaster relief assistance in the Philippines after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. In 1993 Panter was transferred to United States Central Command, Tampa, Fla., and served as the branch chief, Exercise Branch, Logistics and Security Assistance Directorate (J4) and also as the humanitarian assessment survey team (HAST) chief. During 1997 he was transferred to Naples, Italy, where he served as the military assistant and senior special assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Forces Southern Europe. In July 1998, Colonel Panter was transferred to United States Atlantic Command, Norfolk, Va., where he served as the deputy chief and later chief of the Current Operations Division, Operations Directorate [J3]. During August 1999 Panter was transferred to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing and served as the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing inspector until assuming command of Marine Wing Support Group 27, which he commanded for two years. From July 2002 until August 2003, Brigadier General Panter served as the commanding general, Marine Corps War Fighting Lab in Quantico, Va., and the vice chief, Office of Naval Research. www.MLF-kmi.com
In September 2003 he assumed command of the 3d Marine Logistics Group. During this tour he commanded the Combined Support Group-Sri Lanka, Operation Unified Assistance, which was responsible for U.S. military tsunami disaster relief assistance in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Also during this tour, Panter deployed forces to Pakistan for earthquake disaster relief efforts as well as commanding the U.S. forces in Indonesia for earthquake disaster relief operations. During August 2006 Panter was transferred to Headquarters, Marine Corps where he assumed duties as the assistant deputy commandant for Installations and Logistics (Plans, Policy and Strategic Mobility). From 2007 to 2009, Major General Panter served as the commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea and assistant chief of staff for Strategy and Plans, U/C/J-5, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. Panter is a graduate of the United States Army’s Advance Engineer Officer’s Course, the Marine Corps’ Command & Staff College, the Naval War College and the Air Force’s Air War College (non-resident). He has a Master of Education degree in secondary mathematics and a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies. MLF 5.7 | 21
Q: In a time of tighter budgets, what are some of your more significant efforts to increase efficiencies and reduce costs? A: In this period of tighter budgets and diminishing resources, we have been analyzing many areas in which savings could potentially be achieved or business could potentially be done more efficiently. One of our most significant recent efforts was an assistant commandant of the Marine Corpsdirected ground equipment deep dive, which revealed opportunities to improve our investments. In the deep dive, we reviewed the top 10 cost drivers on the planned master work schedule across the Future Years Defense Program [FYDP]. Using the commandant of the Marine Corps’ Planning Guidance and input from across the Marine air-ground task force [MAGTF], we made adjustments to our procurement plans and depot maintenance workload, more closely aligning it with the equipment requirements of the operating forces, and avoiding over $300 million in future costs.
GCSS-MC will enhance the logistical capabilities of Marines across the globe by providing all logistics personnel a more efficient, consolidated data system for supply and maintenance support requests. [Photo courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps]
Q: Can you detail the Marine Corps reset plan, which I believe has a budget of about $10.6 billion? A: To speed up the reset, we will use a mix of organic, commercial capabilities, and joint capabilities to spread the work. This will allow us to reset our equipment more efficiently, thereby allowing us to reconstitute our operating forces at a faster rate. Also, we are refreshing equipment as far forward as possible to ensure we take full advantage of joint capabilities established in country. Equipment returning from theater will be reset in accordance with developed strategies and the commandant’s priorities. It is difficult to assign a reset timeline for equipment deployed to Afghanistan—but the key point is that the longer the Marine Corps is engaged in combat, the longer it will take to reset its ground equipment. The current reset liability is estimated as $5.6 billion for FY11 and FY12, with another $5 billion at the termination of the conflict. Q: Staying with a related budget issue, how are you addressing the reconstitution shortfall? What will it take from a funding and effort perspective to get the job done? A: We are addressing our reconstitution shortfalls by optimizing and aligning our equipment reset strategies to meet the requirements of a post-OEF Marine Corps. Our efforts are being informed and guided by actions such as the force structure review and table of equipment reviews. As the nation’s expeditionary force in readiness, the Marine Corps is developing capabilities of a middleweight force in the post-OEF era. This development will shape important decisions, such as how to best reconstitute the force to respond across a broad range of military operations. It will involve complex decisions on which equipment to keep in the inventory and which to divest to ensure we are not spending resources unnecessarily. Currently, the projected amount to meet our reconstitution shortfall is $5 billion. 22 | MLF 5.7
Q: Based on current projections, do you expect to see any shift in the prepositioning plan in place? A: We are constantly looking how to make the prepositioning plan more responsive and flexible in support of the combatant commander’s needs. A recent Department of the Navy efficiency decision moved one MPSRON [maritime prepositioning ship squadron] into a reduced operating status. We believe this efficiency has an impact on responsiveness, but does not change the Marine Corps prepositioning plan—since we would still employ this squadron in the same manner as our other two fully-activated MPSRONs. The objective remains the same: to deploy the most capable MEB [Marine expeditionary brigade] in a timely and efficient manner. Q: Can you share some important lessons learned from OIF drawdown? A: We conducted a logistics lessons learned symposium in March 2010 to examine the responsible drawdown in Iraq. While the drawdown was a huge operational and logistical success, we realized we could do some things better to prepare us for both the transition to and exit from Afghanistan. Some of the key takeaways we will apply to OEF/OND drawdown include: thin out equipment at forward operating bases early; leverage optimal repair locations; triage in theater; and establish a forward reset executive agent to control flow [LogCom]. Q: Does the Marine Corps utilize any type of inventory management/ reorder point decision tools to help ensure an inline supply chain with not too much or too little inventory on hand? A: As we implement enterprise resource planning with Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps [GCSS-MC], a common approach to inventory planning and management will be instituted. GCSS-MC uses Oracle’s Advanced Planning and Scheduling [APS] suite of applications to forecast demands for the Marine Corps. www.MLF-kmi.com
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The forecast uses statistical analysis to provide a forward look at what the force will need. This information will be processed at the Marine Corps Logistics Command and shared with suppliers to ensure the right materiel is available when needed. The analytical products can then be used to build individual plans for each of the MEFs. Q: Some base camps in deployed environments offer degrees of creature comforts—others not so much. What are some things you are doing to make living conditions for Marines in some of the more basic camps more bearable, especially considering some of the climatic conditions? A: Our main focus is making our Marines as combat effective as possible. Ensuring that they are equipped to operate effectively in austere and often extreme environments is what drives our approach to sustainment. One of the big challenges in supporting our Marines and managing our battlefield footprint is our demand for energy. We have several new energy initiatives underway in Afghanistan that are increasing the quality of life for our Marines and reducing our demand for energy at the same time. We are deploying thermal tent liners to better hold the conditioned air. That makes a big difference when the outside temperature can be over 110 degrees. Feedback from the Marines at the
forward operating posts has been positive. We also harnessed the liners with low power LED lights that emit less heat and use less power than standard fluorescent lights. By end of the year we expect to field thermal tent liners and LED lights to 10 battalions. Next month, we are sending out solar-powered water coolers for evaluation. These units use solar energy to cool water to 40 degrees in just a few hours. Using renewable energy sources reduces generator power, and in turn reduces the requirement for Marines to protect and haul fuel. Q: Last year the Marines conducted a comprehensive force structure review. As far as what affected your command, what were some of the biggest takeaways? A: The post-OEF Marine Corps will be smaller and re-structured to support the commandant’s vision of a middleweight force. Specific to the logistics combat elements [LCE], we modified the tables of organization and equipment and shifted from functional to multifunctional battalions. Within the MAGTF, this means that the LCE will be leaner and better organized to support crisis response and contingency missions. The revised operational construct focuses on supporting Marine expeditionary unit [MEU] and Marine expeditionary battalion level operations, yet retains the capability to aggregate forces for largerscale operations. We are accepting some risk at the high end of the range of military operations to focus on a readily-deployable middleweight MEB-level capability that fills a niche between lighter special operations forces and heavier Army brigades and allows for tailoring in either direction to meet any requirement. Significant changes to the LCE include: • We are moving the engineer line companies from the engineer support battalions to fill engineer services company structure requirements within the direct support combat logistics battalion [DS CLB]. • The DS CLBs will include a transportation services company, augmented by a landing support platoon and a multifunctional engineer services company. • Multi-functional MEU CLBs will be manned and equipped as permanent organizations. • Maintenance and supply battalions will be right sized and separated to form multi-functional CLBs. • To the extent possible, we are creating mirrored commands. Extending the transition through FY15 will provide clear transition points for assignments and trade-space for equipment redistribution, and aligns our LCE effort with Ground Combat Element and Command Element structure initiatives. Q: Any final thoughts about Marine Corps logistics? A: The challenging business of logistics is being met head on at every level of command. To prevent the requirement to pay later, we are continually leaning forward to ensure we are doing what is necessary to support the warfighter while preparing for future demands. Lastly, and significant as well, we are revamping our logistics training and education systems to ensure we are producing Marines not only to survive but excel on today and tomorrow’s battlefield. O
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¤ Handling
Choices ¤ The U.S. military’s requirements for lifting, pushing, pulling, loading, unloading and generally moving around a lot of heavy material are in some ways similar to the needs of many civilian companies. But war and war-makers have some very unique needs too, not least of which is operating in very difficult and dangerous environments. Unsurprisingly, some of the Defense Department’s handling equipment is very similar to that used by civilian firms, while other equipment is extensively adapted from commercial equipment to meet much more demanding requirements. “JCB’s big strength is that we are vertically integrated,” summarized Chris Saucedo, vice president of Military Products and a 22-year veteran of U.S. Marine Corps engineering. “We make all our engines, transmissions and axles.” Saucedo divides material handling equipment into three basic types: commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), military off-the-shelf, and unique military equipment.
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By Henry Canaday MLF Correspondent
For the military, JCB makes small telescopic-handling platforms of less than 6,000 pounds load capacity, large platforms of greater capacity and high-mobility platforms that can move at convoy speeds of 45 to 50 miles per hour. JCB also makes backhoe loaders that can use either shovels or forks. “These can move dust and dirt around, but also do material handling and move cargo,” Saucedo emphasized. “They are a force multiplier. They can be used by armor or artillery to move ammunition, or to move fuel pods or water tanks.” JCB has a backhoe loader that travels at convoy speed and the same technology enables the company’s highmobility, rough terrain forklifts. One unique feature of JCB’s flexible equipment is that it can both move equipment and dirt. For example, a HESCO defensive barrier can be put in place and then filled with dirt by the same vehicle. Or an auger can be fixed to the vehicle to dig a hole for fence posts. Flexibility is key in many situations. JCB’s telescopic
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handlers can unload cargo from ships for disaster relief and then be transferred to shore help move the fuel, food and water wherever they are needed. Saucedo said there is a trend toward telemetry in handling equipment to provide the diagnostics and prognostics necessary to keep equipment available and reduce maintenance costs. “Once you have telemetry, you can control the machines remotely in hostile areas.” Cargo trucks are now being developed that can move cargo by remote control. Now the cargo can be unloaded by remote control as well, reducing or eliminating the need for force protection at unloading sites. Another trend is toward better armor and countermeasures for military handling equipment. One challenge here is to provide effective armor while remaining within the weight limits that allow the equipment to do its job. JCB has demonstrated for Australian forces a composite Similar to their civilian counterparts, mobile cranes do the heavy lifting around the depot or in the field. [Photo courtesy of Terex] armor solution that meets this challenge. Saucedo said military customers can now buy commercial handlers and easily replace their cabs with armored cabs that also have defensive countermeasures. JCB has been working hard to improve the fuel efficiency of its material handlers. A new line of Echo engines has been put on many JCB vehicles. John Deere makes a full line of commercial construction equipment. For material handling, Deere has several product lines. Deere’s K Series utility loaders can shuttle sand, place pallets or unload trucks. “Each comes loaded with production-boosting advantages, such as a state-of-art multifunction monitor with advanced diagnostics, a convenient sealed-switch module and our innovative Quad-Cool system that keeps everything running cool,” explained John Chesterman, product marketing manager for Loaders. Rough terrain container handlers have eased the problems associated with the local movement of bulky containers and units. [Photo Deere’s K Series production loaders courtesy of Caterpillar] are highly stable, drive very smoothly and have impressive loading performance. In each Deere material handler, buckets can be replaced with “K Series loaders deliver everything a contractor would want in forks when needed. a production-class loader,” Chesterman said. “Productivity and Finally, Deere skid steers are loaded with customer-inspired uptime-boosting advantages include PowerShift transmission, a enhancements, such as roomy operator stations and quiet, high-torque PowerTech diesel engine, the Quad-Cool system and pressurized cabs. Productivity-boosting options include joymultifunction monitors.” Several of the K loaders are available sticks with selectable control patterns and variable booms and with special engines for work in EPA nonattainment areas. bucket-speed rate limits. “Deere continually looks to customers Deere landscape loaders have a unitized mainframe. These and contractors to offer input into the design of our equipconstruction-grade loaders have uncommon stamina and ment,” Chesterman stressed. “Anyone that needs best-in-class strength. For smaller jobs, Deere offers a 110 Tractor loader. 26 | MLF 5.7
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material-handling equipment can easily jump into a cab and work with any of the Deere products. Most important, the Deere lines of material-handling products can be used for military logistics and work.” Terex Corporation manufactures an extensive range of equipment for the construction, infrastructure, quarrying, recycling, mining, shipping, transportation, refining, utility and maintenance industries. “We are market leaders in the manufacture of both commercial and militarized material-handling equipment, including all-terrain cranes, rough-terrain cranes, truck cranes, container-reach stackers, tele-handlers, working lifts, boom trucks, scrap handlers, heavy-port forklifts, straddle carriers and port cranes,” said Thomas Manley, vice president of government programs. Under the brand names of Terex or Genie, the company’s handling equipment is on most military bases in the U.S. and worldwide. Terex Government Programs (TGP) is located in Fredericksburg, Va., close to key Department of Defense customers. TGP develops COTS solutions or militarizes Terex equipment to meet specific operational needs. “Our TGP team works closely with Terex business segments to anticipate U.S. military requirements,” Manley stressed. Terex developed its tractor, rubber-tired, articulated steering, materiel (TRAM) handler during the Vietnam era. These 10,000pound wheel-loaders were purchased and used by the thousands from the 1960s through the 1990s and some are still operated at U.S. bases and by other militaries. In Iraq and Afghanistan, Terex’s telescopic-container tophandlers, called reach stackers, are widely used. Terex stackers are used primarily for moving containers, but have proved useful in a myriad of equipment- and vehicle-lifting operations using top-handler four-point slings. Terex reach stackers are capable of lifting over 90,000 pounds and stacking 20- or 40-foot containers up to five high. “Our Terex stackers are called upon to lift the heaviest of container loads, such as fuel, water and ammunition, and used where cycle time and quick through-put of containers are essential,” Manley explained. Terex recently completed fielding a significant fleet of 50-ton military all-terrain cranes (MAC 50s) to the U.S. Marine Corps. Manley says these are the most capable and versatile all-terrain cranes used by the Department of Defense. MAC 50s have highway travel speed and cross-country mobility capability, can ford over 60 inches of water and are transportable by C-17 Globemasters. They are used in vertical construction, bridging operations, barrier emplacement and container movement, and they can be used for recovery of heavy armored vehicles or downed aircraft. Both the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps operate the MAC 50 in material-handling missions throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Terex is now supporting naval aviation with its heavy maintenance crane (HMC), a 25-ton, cab-down, rough-terrain crane. The HMC was adapted from Terex’s commercial CD 200 series of rough-terrain cranes to meet the rigorous support requirements for ground support of Navy and Marine aircraft. It is air-transportable and capable of pick-and-carry operations. The HMC’s extended boom reach saves time in heavy-maintenance tasks such as pulling engines and rotors on fixed and rotary wing aircraft. “We are confident that NAVAIR will be able to meet and improve all their aircraft maintenance support activities with fielding of the HMC,” Manley predicted. www.MLF-kmi.com
In 2000, Terex was awarded a Marine Corps contract for a 5,000-pound light rough terrain forklift (LRTF). Terex’s TX 51-19 M/MD has been a workhorse LRTF ever since. Hundreds of these tele-handler forklifts have proved their flexibility and capability in wartime conditions around the globe for more than 10 years. The TX 51-19 M/MD performs beach loading, pallet handling, vehicle loading, vertical-construction support and ammunition handling, and does container stuffing and un-stuffing operations. Its success has led to Army adoption of the Marine Corps requirement and additional procurements by the Marines. Recently Terex militarized a commercial extended-boom 4,000-pound tele-handler for use by the U.S. Air Force in extreme arctic cold weather as well as in the high heat and blowing sand and dust of desert environments. This TX 4013 Air Force model was rigorously tested by design engineers to meet or exceed all Air Force specifications. It has an extended boom reach for unstuffing 20-foot containers and can work in close proximity to aircraft for support of maintenance and loading operations. As a hybrid design based on a commercial tele-handler, the TX 4013 AF can interface with a wide range of commercial attachments, including work baskets, de-icing kits, variable fork sizes and options, towing packages, buckets and crane attachments. “The TX 4013 AF is an exceptionally robust, flexible, and capable machine that will support a wide range of materialhandling missions for the U.S. Air Force long into the future,” Manley said. Caterpillar has delivered over a thousand of their 10,000pound all terrain fork lifts (10K ATFL), mostly to the U.S. Air Force, but also to the Army and Special Operations Command. These are specially built derivatives of Caterpillar’s 928 wheel loaders. This ATFL has military modifications to accommodate the Department of Defense’s needs in theaters of operation. The 10K ATFL has a roller system that attaches to its fork and matches up with the 463L pallet system on the C-130 Hercules. And the ATFL can remove its own cab, so it can be carried in a C-130 as well. This allows the Air Force to roll the ATFL off a C-130 and immediately begin off-loading pallets. The Air Force uses the Caterpillar machine all over the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Qatar and other bases. Caterpillar’s Machine Marketing and Contracts Manager Rick Sharp indicated that ATFL was selected by the Air Force partly because of Caterpillar’s extensive presence and support network around the world. A 12,000-pound variant of the ATFL is also available with the same features. Caterpillar also makes a rough terrain container handler (RTCH), a variant of its 988B and 980G wheel loaders, that handles 20- and 40-foot containers. It can stack containers two high. The Army bought a few hundred RTCHs in the late 1980s and some are still in use today. A 25,000-pound RTCH was procured by the Navy to move 20-foot containers around storage yards. Caterpillar also makes a full line of tele-handlers, wheel loaders with fork lifts, and skid steers, which have less lifting capacity but can fit into tight places. O
For more information, contact MLF Editor Jeff McKaughan at jeffm@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.MLF-kmi.com.
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Protection levels have increased even on lighter support trucks. By Peter Buxbaum MLF Correspondent
Mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles are most often thought of as instruments of force protection. The United States military started to acquire them during the second half of 2003, when the fast-paced, mechanized, expeditionary Iraq campaign turned into a slogging counterinsurgency operation, often staged on complex urban terrain. The MRAP’s height and weight shield the troops sequestered inside and its V-shaped undercarriage deflects the force of improvised explosive devices blast away from the underbody of the vehicle.
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But MRAPs play important roles in logistics as well. The vehicle morphed into several different variants, each configured for specialized missions such as the movement of weapons and general cargo as well as the removal of casualties from the battlefield. “Many mission types require MRAP survivability protection, and that includes warfighters running vehicle recovery and support missions,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense.
MRAP vehicles through $5 billion in contract awards. The BAE MRAPs incorporate eight different variants, all of which have been fielded in combat zones. BAE Systems also provides troop carrier, route clearance and ambulance variant of the RG33 to the U.S. military. “The route clearance variant carries robots that do the actual route clearance,” said Bate. “All of these vehicles have essentially the same body types and heavy armor and all have been deployed to theater.” The RG33 variant of the MRAP, built by BAE Upgrades will be performed on nearly 250 Systems, in fact was developed to specifications of SOCOM vehicles to incorporate new indepenthe U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) dent suspension systems and other design to include blast protection from nose to tail, improvements to ensure superior mobility and shielding the cargo areas as well, a feature not to performance. The 32 latest U.S. SOCOM AUV be found on all MRAPs. The U.S. military has also Beach Day MRAP vehicles were all built with the improverecently placed orders for recovery and ambulance ments already built-in. MRAPs with Navistar, and has begun to take delivMRAPs might normally thought of as fightery of upgraded heavy-duty tactical trucks. With ing vehicles, but Navistar’s MaxxPro MRAP the anticipated drawdown of U.S. troops from includes variants that are put to work for Afghanistan, MRAPs have begun to be reallocated logistical purposes. “The MaxxPro is becoming and repurposed. a family of vehicles that include wreckers and BAE Systems last year was awarded a $170 flatbeds,” said Archie Massicotte, president of million contract to deliver 32 SOCOM armored Navistar Defense. “We can modify the platform utility vehicles (AUV) to the U.S. Marine Corps to what the customer is looking for.” Systems Command. The U.S. SOCOM AUV is Navistar Defense recently announced that one of several MRAP variants based on the RG33 it received a $357 million delivery order for family of vehicles. The contract also included an additional 471 International MaxxPro Dash providing upgrades, including the installation of Mike Ivy vehicles. A month earlier Navistar received a independent suspensions, to 250 existing vehicles. $183 million order from the U.S. Marine Corps “We turned that delivery order ahead of schedSystems Command for 250 MaxxPro Dash MRAP ambulances. ule, in 10 months, with zero defects,” said Beach Day, MPV Most recently, in July 2011, Navistar received a delivery order program director at BAE Systems. “The first batch is already for 140 International MaxxPro Recovery vehicles with rocketsitting in theater in Afghanistan.” propelled grenade nets from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems The RG33 USSOCOM AUV MRAP is a modified commercial Command. Navistar has grown its fleet of MaxxPro vehicles to off-the-shelf vehicle designed to reduce casualties and increase more than 8,700 units, encompassing nine variants. survivability for personnel subjected to mine explosions, IED MaxxPro MRAPs are being used for a number of missions detonations, and small arms fire. The vehicle provides 12,000outside the wire, according to Massicotte. “The MaxxPro Dash pound cargo payload and 36,000-pound towing capability. It was the first MRAP to be modified specifically for the Afghan features an Automatic Fire Suppression System and a V-shaped terrain and we have continued to enhance its capabilities all hull that provides blast protection against a variety of explosive along the way,” he said. “The addition of independent suspenhazards. sion on our vehicles helps combine mobility and survivability. “This allows the vehicle to be driven away after being subThey are also used for troop transport in convoys.” ject to threats that would completely destroy normal vehicles The MaxxPro Dash ambulance is the company’s latest MRAP and disable other mine protected vehicles,” said Michael Bate, variant. “All our MaxxPro units share commonality and this the RG33 program director at BAE Systems. allows us to respond rapidly to changing mission needs with The RG33 is equipped with a 600 horsepower engine which vehicle enhancements and fleet support,” said Massicotte. gives the vehicle a high horsepower per ton ratio, according to The $142 million order for MaxxPro Recovery vehicles also Day. “It’s also got mine protection all the way to the cargo bed,” includes parts and support for MRAPs. Navistar received its first he said, “so that it protects the cargo as well as the crew.” MaxxPro Recovery vehicle order in November 2010. “The blast protection requirements for the SOCOM vehicle “To meet urgent needs, we completed delivery of the last is different,” added Bate, “because special operations teams use MaxxPro Recovery vehicle order two months ahead of schedthis for just about everything, from towing boats to hauling ule,” said Massicotte. “We are proud that these vehicles are their own 4-by-4 vehicles in the back. They were developed and performing well and we will work swiftly again to deliver these are utilized for special missions including early reconnaissance additional trucks.” missions. They can haul pretty much anything on the back The MaxxPro Recovery vehicle is based on the same Workof this truck from one forward operating base to the next to Star, or International 7000-MV, platform that Navistar uses for ensure mission success.” other of its growing family of vehicles. The vehicle’s ballistic, To date, BAE Systems has produced around 350 SOCOM mine and IED protection aids two- to three-man crews as they MRAP vehicles, 2,200 RG33 MRAP vehicles, and 6,400 total 30 | MLF 5.7
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retrieve damaged or disabled vehicles and carry out other support missions. The recovery vehicles will be delivered in October and November 2011. Within the last year, Oshkosh Defense began delivering upgraded versions of the Palletized Load System (PLS) and the Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET), two of the vehicles within the U.S. Army’s family of heavy tactical vehicles (FHTV), under a contract awarded in 2008. The company anticipates delivering 6,000 new vehicles under the contract. Oshkosh also upgrades some of the older FHTV vehicles to make them compatible with the latest requirements. The Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) is also a component of FHTV. The PLS, used for Army Based on the foundation of an MRAP, this armored utility vehicle both protects soldiers and delivers supplies. [Photo courtesy of BAE Systems] distribution and resupply, is built to transport ammuniconfiguration, the suspension in the recapitalized vehicle is tion and other battle supplies. The HET is designed to rapidly improved and a fully air-conditioned and armor-ready cab is transport battle tanks, fighting and recovery vehicles, armored installed, in addition to a more powerful drive train. vehicles and construction equipment, as well as their crews. Oshkosh also has a contract for the Army’s family of The HEMTT A4 is available in several variants for a wide range medium tactical vehicles (FMTV), deliveries of which began of operations including equipment transport. around a year ago. The FMTV consists of 17 models, including “We are now in production with the PLS A1,” said Mike Ivy, cargo, tractor, van, wrecker, tanker and dump truck variants. vice president and general manager for Army programs at OshThe FMTV transports troops and hauls equipment in support kosh Defense. “We have made significant improvements to the of a wide range of tactical operations. Ivy expects Oshkosh to platform. A transportation unit out of the Los Alamitos Joint deliver 13,000 of these vehicles, which were not upgraded as Forces Training Base was the first to receive the truck earlier part of the new contract award. this year and they were delighted with it. The trucks are now For all the important work performed by MRAPs in Afghanicoming off the assembly line.” stan and Iraq, the drawdown of U.S. forces from those areas The PLS A1 has an improved power train with a 600-horseof operations spell an end to the demand for the vehicles, at power Caterpillar C13 engine, an independent front suspension least for now. “Right now, there is no future demand for these for improved off-road mobility, and electrical upgrades. Its new vehicles,” said Day. “As MRAPs are being drawn down they are cab is common with the HEMTT C4 and is armor ready. being redistributed within the battle command setup. Some are “The HET A1 is in low rate initial production while testing being tailored for different missions.” continues,” said Ivy. “We are making the final configuration Day predicts some MRAPs will be converted to trainers or changes and plan to ramp up to full-rate production in the first repurposed for other mission types. This will provide more quarter of fiscal year 2012.” Ivy expects the delivery order for work for contractors, as the trucks will need to be reconfigured 1,000 vehicles, valued at $440 million, to be completed by June with different equipment, from radios to gun turrets. O 2012. The new HET A1 will all have armored cabs, including armored floors. That additional weight has necessitated an upgrade to the 700-horsepower Caterpillar C18 engine. The latest Oshkosh HET A1 also includes higher capacity front suspension, electrical upgrades and standard air conditioning. For more information, contact MLF Editor Jeff McKaughan at Oshkosh has also been active in recapitalizing military jeffm@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at vehicles, including the PLS and HEMTT, recently reaching www.MLF-kmi.com. the 10,000-vehicle milestone. To meet the latest HEMTT A4 www.MLF-kmi.com
MLF 5.7 | 31
There is no substitute for efficient planning for the long-term operational sustainment of military equipment and systems. By Henry Canaday MLF Correspondent
Cutting cost while maintaining capability will be critical in the new budget environment. Along with choosing new programs wisely, that means minimizing the total life cycle costs of all military assets, both current assets whose lives must be extended and new platforms, systems and components. Private firms are involved, as manufacturers, in much of this economizing effort. They are also helping at critical stages of life cycle planning, especially in logistics and obsolescence management. Honeywell has devoted substantial efforts to thinking through how components, especially avionics components, on older aircraft can be sustained through long lives. Steve Pitts, vice president for Honeywell’s U.S. Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) business segments, said the challenge exists “across the board.” “The biggest driver of higher costs is often obsolescence,” Pitts noted. Honeywell wants to offer a proactive solution to this problem and partner with military customers in implementing it. Obsolescence is most intense in components depending on electronics or information technology because rapid advances in consumer markets for these products mean technologies go out of date constantly. A firm that made a particular part may go out of business. More often, a part once made in high volumes now generates only a few orders annually, insufficient to maintain infrastructure to produce it. Identifying these problems well in advance yields several options. A substitute part, with the same form, fit and function, may be designed and sourced. Or the larger system in which the part is required may be redesigned to use a different part. Pitts noted that redesign presents an opportunity to enhance performance while dealing with obsolescence. Initially, Honeywell offered obsolescence solutions only for Honeywell products, but that could be very helpful as Honeywell products are on virtually every military aircraft. Pitts said the approach could eventually be applied more broadly across other manufacturers’ equipment. 32 | MLF 5.7
SRA does not work on particular platforms or components, but with the logistics and supply-chain systems that sustain many platforms and components. George Batsakis, vice president for SRA’s Defense Strategic Business Unit in the National Security Sector, divides this work into three traditional elements, asset visibility, enterprise resource planning systems, and supply chain optimization. SRA has recently added a fourth area of expertise: fuel management. “Ultimately, when you improve the supply chain, part logistics or repairs, you reduce the life cycle cost of many platforms,” Batsakis stressed. SRA won an award in 2009 for helping the Army reduce supply chain costs of command, control, communication and computing equipment by $150 to $200 million. SRA has been working on many of these problems for three decades with U.S. Transportation Command. Its work for DLA is “smaller but strategic,” Batsakis said. SRA recently partnered with the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command to create a common operating picture tool that provides logistics visibility on Defense Transportation System shipments to every organization at every level. Its Integrated Surface Distribution Data Cleansing Capability (ISDDC) provides a single web-based interface for in-transit visibility of over 30 million shipment records, refreshed daily, over the last six fiscal years. SRA has also partnered with manufacturers of military equipment to reduce life cycle costs of their equipment. This business is still small, however. “We could do more on this,” Batsakis noted. Defense procurement offices often rely on OEMs to keep sustainment costs lean, either in initial bids or in long-term support contracts. Economizing on fuel requirements is now mandated in the design of new systems, land, air and sea. But physics sets limits on the fuel efficiency of military vehicles, which often measure usage www.MLF-kmi.com
in gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon. SRA has acquired a firm with fuel expertise and combined it with SRA’s expertise in information technology. The aim is to track and protect all fuel shipments en route to usage points and then to economize where possible in the field. Even small proportional improvements could save hundreds of millions, Batsakis estimated. The SRA exec is confident he is in the right business. “Everyone I see in the military, from three stars to five stripers, wants to get more performance at lower cost.” BAE Systems’ Advanced Component Obsolescence Management (AVCOM) offers several levels of service for dealing with obsolescence challenges, according to Business Development Manager Randy Shropshire. In the initial acquisition stage, engineers can load in a bill of materials and AVCOM will run ‘what-if’ scenarios to ensure that the parts selected meet long-term goals of avoiding obsolescence. During program life, AVCOM checks part availability, flagging parts as single-source, multiple source, or likely to go obsolete. Where problems are likely, alerts are sent to clients and BAE’s own research group searches for alternative parts of the same form, fit and function. “You need to be proactive, to give them time to rectify the situation,” Shropshire said. BAE has both the software and subject matter experts with 20 years of obsolescence-management experience to make AVCOM proactive. AVCOM has been used by the U.S. Air Force since 2000—for example, for all the avionics on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and by the Marines and Special Operations Command on mine resistant ambush protected vehicles. It is also used by major defense suppliers such as Boeing, Hawker Beechcraft, EADS, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. AVCOM does obsolescence management nose-to-tail on Hawker’s T-6 Texan trainer. It has provided similar support for Hill Air Force Base’s C3I ground-based satellites. Real dollars are at stake here. Shropshire estimates that AVCOM helped Hill avoid $412 million in costs since 2002, avoided almost $200 million on the V-22 Osprey since 2004 and avoided $4.4 million on the T-6 in two-and-a-half years. “It has avoided over a half billion dollars in total.”
BAE recently launched a new website for AVCOM. It enables users to exploit a database of more than 100 million parts and other AVCOM capabilities flexibly, choosing the exact level of service they need. Logistics Systems Incorporated has primarily focused on the U.S. Army logistics market. “We have been successfully engaged at the logistics wholesale, retail and headquarters levels, both in the continental United States and outside it,” summarized Henry Jennings, senior vice president of Business Development. In addition, LSI has provided logistics and life cycle planning support to the Missile Defense Agency, where it helped reduce total ownership costs of sensors through such techniques as depot-level business case analysis, standardization and interoperability analysis, sparing analysis, costbenefit analysis and assistance to MDA’s support strategy. Jennings attributes LSI’s success with Department of Defense logistics customers to several factors. The firm has a broad and deep understanding of defense logistics policies, procedures, and operational requirements. It has the technical expertise to deliver valuable solutions while working within defense parameters. Most important, LSI understands the objectives and challenges faced by defense customers. “As defense budgets draw down, we know that our customers, current and prospective, will continue to have program requirements and objectives but will have fewer resources to support them,” Jennings noted. “Our response to this challenge is to provide nolearning-curve solutions. Our logistics technical experts apply their skills with technology-based tools to deliver tailored, cost-effective solutions.” Jennings said LSI has been most successful when it has combined subject matter experts with proven technologies that customers can use to meet their own mission objectives. O
For more information, contact MLF Editor Jeff McKaughan at jeffm@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.MLF-kmi.com.
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MLF 5.7 | 33
NEXTISSUE
September 2011 Vol. 5, Issue 8
The Publication of Record for the Military Logistics Community
Cover and In-Depth Interview with:
Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr.
U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command Special Section
The MRO Enterprise
The maintenance, repair and overhaul process is what keeps the fleet flying, meeting operating requirements and delivering to the war fight.
Features
Obsolescence Management
Everything ages, but how gracefully is something that can certainly be predicted, managed and sustained.
Asset Visibility Managing the asset footprint for new programs.
Condition-based Maintenance Does the concept work in a deployed environment?
Future of Air Transport
A critical eye of the concepts that will be the transports of the future. Is it what we expect?
Bonus Distribution • NDTA • LOA Conference
SPecial Pull-out Supplement
CECOM LCMC A comprehensive special supplement profiling U.S. Army CommunicationElectronics Command. This Who’s Who pull-out will include a cover and lead Q&A with Lane D. Collie, director of the Logistics Readiness Center, a profile of critical contracts, plus a two-page pictorial spread of CECOM’s senior leadership.
Insertion Order Deadline: August 25, 2011 • Ad Materials Deadline: September 1, 2011
To Advertise, Contact: Jane Engel, MLF Associate Publisher 301.670.5700 x 120 • jane@kmimediagroup.com
The advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers. KMI cannot be held responsible for discrepancies due to last-minute changes or alterations.
MLF CALEND A R & DI REC TO RY Advertisers Index
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Ability One.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 www.abilityonedod.org
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Northrop Grumman. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C2 www.northropgrumman.com/logistics
Northrop Grumman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 www.ts.northropgrumman.com
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September 7-9, 2011 International Society of Logistics Dallas, Texas www.sole.org/conference.asp September 10-14, 2011 NDTA Forum & Expo Phoeniz, Ariz. www.ndtahq.com/events_forum_ expo.htm September 27-29, 2011 Modern Day Marine Quantico, Va. www.marinecorpsexpos.com October 10-12, 2011 AUSA Washington, D.C. www.ausa.org October 10-13, 2011 Logistics Officers Association Fort Worth, Texas www.loanational.org/conference/
October 17-21, 2011 U.S. Army SDDC Traffic Management Workshop St. Louis, Mo. www.sddc.army.mil/events/default.aspx October 26-28, 2011 TACOM LCMC APBI Dearborn, Mich. www.ndia.org/meetings/2520 November 1-2, 2011 PEO/SYSCOM Conference Fort Belvoir, Va. http://live.usaasc.info/peosyscomconference/ November 1-3, 2011 Tanker Airlift Association Nashville, Tenn. www.atalink.org November 14-17, 2011 DoD Maintenance Symposium Fort Worth, Texas www.sae.org/events/dod February 28-March 2, 2012 Defense Maintenance & Sustainment Summit San Diego, Calif. www.defensemaintenance.com
MLF  5.7 | 35
Industry Interview
Military Logistics Forum
Diane Giuliani Senior Vice President and General Manager AAI Logistics & Technical Services Diane Giuliani is senior vice president and general manager of AAI Logistics & Technical Services (LTS) in Hunt Valley, Md. She is responsible for ensuring program execution and growth at this operating unit of Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company. Giuliani leads an organization of nearly 1,000 employees that provides integrated logistics support, operational services, maintenance and depot support for aerospace and defense customers in the U.S. and abroad. Q: Could you provide some background on AAI LTS and your work with the U.S. Department of Defense? A: DoD is by far our most important customer. LTS has long provided logistics services in support of AAI’s unmanned aircraft systems, test equipment and training devices. With Textron’s acquisition of AAI in 2007, we extended that cost-effective business model to the larger enterprise. We then leveraged that expertise to provide similar support to other original equipment manufacturers. AAI LTS operates in three areas: unmanned system services, platform logistics and mission equipment. In the unmanned area, LTS provides field service representatives, preset, reset, training, maintenance, flight acceptance support and turnkey operations through a fee-for-service business model. Platform logistics include, for example, aircraft component performance based logistics and contractor logistics support for aircrew and maintenance training systems. Mission equipment includes support of weather systems, chemical-biological defense systems and C4ISR program support. Q: What are the company’s main business areas? A: Textron Inc. is probably best known for Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft Company. Within its Textron Systems business unit are Textron Marine & Land Systems, Textron Defense Systems, Lycoming Engines, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, AAI Test & Training, as well as an advanced systems unit, which includes Overwatch, a provider of multi-source intelligence and geospatial analysis. Q: As a major player in military logistics, how 36 | MLF 5.7
Q: How is the larger enterprise, Textron Systems, helping with the military’s situational awareness needs?
is AAI LTS helping DoD meet its current objectives? A: Many of our programs include availability incentives under PBL arrangements, and we also help meet the DoD’s objectives through public-private partnerships. We are proud that many of our programs maintain 100 percent mission availability. The U.S. Army/AAI LTS Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft system PBL team has received three major awards recently for reducing costs while improving readiness, including the 2010 Office of the Secretary of Defense [OSD] Gerald R. Beck System-Level Best PBL Implementation Award. The OSD-level recognition and delivery performance in partnership with our government customers together speak volumes about our drive for results in helping DoD meet its readiness and business objectives for affordable sustainment. Q: What are some of the new programs that AAI LTS is working on in partnership with DoD agencies and the military services? A: Three of our newer programs are fee-for-service training services with the AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ Aerosonde platform at the U.S. Air Force Academy, contractor logistics support of the AN/TMQ-53 Tactical Meteorological Observing System, and an expanded role in support of the C-17 training system as part of a team led by L-3 Link. These three happen to be Air Force programs, but we have projects in work with Army, Navy and Marine Corps customers as well. Q: What challenges do you face in meeting the needs of the 21st century warfighter? A: The primary challenges are sustained readiness and deployment agility, lowering sustainment costs, and supporting the warfighter’s needs for superior situational awareness.
A: Textron Systems provides unmanned systems, from the vehicle itself to ground control systems and data terminals. So one aspect is supporting those systems. A second aspect is pushing toward mixed-fleet sharing of ISR and target assessment data. A third aspect includes leading-edge technologies like the FASTCOM system AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Overwatch just demonstrated with ViaSat at the DoD’s Empire Challenge 11. FASTCOM, which stands for forward airborne secure transmissions and communications, is a secure, mobile network in a box that pushes voice, data and video to the tactical edge. It’s a good example of how Textron Systems operating units are capturing the combined value of our collective strengths in support of the military. AAI LTS supports these systems with logistics, training and field service to give our men and women in uniform every possible advantage. Q: How is AAI LTS ready to meet the challenging DoD budgetary times that are ahead? A: AAI has a longstanding reputation for innovation. We’re applying that mindset to technologies, certainly, but also to business processes and contracting models. In particular, there are efficiencies to be gained by supporting product families instead of individual products on a program-by-program basis. We help our customers gain those efficiencies. Q: How has AAI LTS positioned itself and prepared for 2012? A: Our unrelenting focus is on enabling readiness and improving affordability. Q: What are your goals for 2012? A: Simply stated, our goals are to execute effectively for the warfighters; innovate to lower the cost of sustainment; and be a great place to work. If we continue to set a high standard in these areas, everything else takes care of itself. O giuliani@aai.textron.com www.MLF-kmi.com
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