Last Updated: 06/16/2009*

With much of the Paris Air Show buzz rooted in the clouds, Raytheon also remains firmly grounded in its meetings and discussions about Army Brigade Combat Team (BCT) modernization. Raytheon is actively engaging with U.S. Army customers to help them best leverage technology investments for current force platforms and to forge affordable integrated sensors and mission systems for next-generation ground combat vehicles.

Costello Speaks to Army Modernization

At the air show, Jack Costello, vice president of Strategic Planning for Raytheon Network Centric Systems, served as one of the company’s senior leadership voices and advocates for Army modernization.

“As the U.S. Army restructures its modernization efforts for expanded BCT capabilities and full spectrum contingencies, Raytheon provides value in realizing the benefits of their substantial technology investments,” said Costello, a retired three-star Army general. “Today’s Army is very modern indeed, and its soldiers are far more technologically savvy. Thus, the service as a whole is well positioned to apply many of these mature investments into the current force.”

System Integration Key

Costello does believe that systems integration is one of the key benefits that industry must deliver as the Army remaps force modernization. “We can no longer just provide a single sensor or stand-alone mission component. We have to take a holistic approach to force modernization that includes integrated and networked capabilities across multiple levels of the Army’s organizational structure. Raytheon is well positioned to leverage its platform-agnostic strength and its substantial experience integrating ground systems, developing command and control solutions, and supporting netted architectures. These are solutions that link the soldier to the environment in which he or she is operating.”

Keep Requirements in Mind

Looking back at his own experiences, the retired general also places importance on lessons-learned from previous modernization programs. “As we all focus on affordability and sustainability, we must keep requirements creep in check,” noted Costello. “If we are going to rapidly field the modern capabilities that our soldiers require, then neither the customer nor industry can afford multiple engineering changes or delays because of requirements creep add-ons. A clear and continuing dialog is imperative; not just in terms of what is do-able from a technology standpoint but what is affordable.”

Modeling and Simulation Can Help

One of the ways Raytheon can help keep affordable modernization on track is through expanded use of modeling and simulation. “We can model and assess the alternatives well before requirements are even written, bringing tremendous savings to the system design and development process,” said Costello. “I believe world-class modeling and simulation will become an essential first step in force modernization acquisition with the immediate benefits of reduced engineering costs and ultimately, rapid fielding of proven and tested solutions. This is a topic that has been addressed for a number of years; we have to get real serious about it.”

 

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