DEPARTMENT REGENERATES MOMENTUM FOR MANEUVER VARIANT OF JOINT TACTICAL UNMANNEDAERIAL VEHICLE PROGRAM

Key staff of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology and the military services met July 14, 1995, in order to regenerate momentum for the maneuver variant of the Joint Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (JT-UAV) program. These officials agreed to take a final look at innovative ways to restructure the end-to-end program to meet the warfighter's needs. The goal is to infuse smart, innovative and affordable approaches to maneuver system acquisition in order to provide this critical UAV capability to the Army and Marine Corps by FY 1998.

To achieve this goal, a 30-day study will be conducted to build upon acquisition planning efforts to date while making the necessary adjustments to lower risk, shorten schedules and provide the required performance at an affordable cost in today's budget environment.

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ronald H. Griffith and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Richard D. Hearney strongly support this approach as necessary for program success. Griffith and Hearney, both veterans of the Gulf War, have stated that the warfighter needs the maneuver UAV in the field now.

The maneuver UAV bidders' conference scheduled for July 18-20, 1995, in Huntsville, Ala., was postponed pending outcome of the study.