The Defense Department plans to turn over radio program responsibilities with the primary tactical radio requirements, after nearly a decade of effort to develop next-generation software-defined radios under the Joint Program Executive Office Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS).
In a July 11 acquisition decision memorandum (ADM) to service secretaries, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall approved requests for changes, subject to new start or reprogramming requirements.
The ADM will have an impact on companies developing advanced radios in the JTRS program, such as General Dynamics [GD], Thales, Harris [HRS], Lockheed Martin [LMT], ViaSat (VSAT) and Data Link Solutions (DLS), a joint venture of Rockwell Collins [COL] and BAE Systems, as well as other companies that provide radios to the services.
The advanced radios are a key piece of the tactical network the Army is building to share voice data and imagery to improve effectiveness and efficiency of units, as well as to eventually connect to the other services.
“I authorize JPEO JTRS to transition to the Joint Tactical Networking Center (JTNC) by the end of FY 2012,” Kendall said.
The current acting Army Acquisition Executive, Heidi Shyu, is designated the Lead Acquisition Executive for JTNC. He requires periodic Milestone Decision authority progress reviews, which will be clarified in the JTNC charter when it is completed.
Kendall said he will retain Milestone Decision Authority for major defense acquisition programs concerning the remaining JTRS programs of record, which will transition to military department-managed programs by the end of fiscal year 2012.
The Army will conduct program management for the JTRS Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) and Airborne, Maritime/Fixed Station (HMS/AMF) program. Within 30 days, the Army must identify which Program Executive Office will manage HMS/AMF. The Defense Acquisition Board review for HMS is July 27.
The Navy will take over program management and execution responsibility for the Multifunctional Distribution System (MIDS). This was directed in an April 4 ADM.
Also, the Army will take over the newly named Joint Tactical Networks (JTN) program, formerly called the JTRS Network Enterprise Domain program.
Kendall also set dates for a variety of tasks to be completed by certain dates for the Army in coordination with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Communications, Command and Control and Cyber(DASD(C3&Cyber).
For example, no later than July 27 a proposed and coordinated “tri-military department resource plan for JTN development activity in FY 2013 and beyond,” including testing, is due to Kendall for approval.
Another action item is that no later than Sept. 30, DASD(C3&Cyber) and other interested parties are to “develop tactical radio waveform roadmaps to guide enhancement of current waveforms and development of new waveforms,” he wrote.
Kendall said the JTNC would maintain the Information Repository and provide secure networking waveforms such as Soldier Radio Waveform, Wideband Networking Waveform, Mobile User Objective System and Link-16 waveforms.
The point is for the waveforms to operate in a variety of hardware, including commercial radios to support interoperable network mission requirements of Combatant Commanders, service and coalitions.