[Boatanchors] Air Force and Navy Join in Joint Tactical Radio Merger

[William L Howard]

Air Force and Navy Join in Joint Tactical Radio Merger
            The Air Force and Navy service acquisition executives (SAEs)
have
jointly decided to merge their respective Joint Tactical Radio System
(JTRS Cluster
3 and Cluster 4) acquisition programs.  Both Department of the Air Force
and
Department of Navy anticipate this merged acquisition will yield
development and
production efficiencies as well as interoperability advantages for the
Department of
Defense.
            "The merger of the JTRS Cluster 3 and Cluster 4 programs
will yield
large dividends for the Navy, the Air Force and DoD in general.  Joint
interoperability is a cornerstone to the way we fight now and in the
future.
Combining our program efforts will ensure that a truly joint radio
system is
efficiently developed for our aerospace and maritime forces," said
Marvin Sambur,
assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition.
            The Air Force and Navy SAEs have established a joint
management and
oversight structure between the two services for the combined program,
similar to
other joint acquisition efforts.
            "The Air Force and the Navy are taking a major step towards
the goals of
the JTRS program by merging Clusters 3 and 4.  We can assure
interoperability,
reduce development costs and lower acquisition costs by joining our
efforts.  More
importantly, we can be certain that our warfighters will be able to
easily
communicate in the joint warfigting environment that Secretary Rumsfeld
is
creating," said John J. Young Jr., assistant secretary of the Navy for
research,
development and acquisition.
            Program leadership will rotate between Air Force and Navy at
appropriate
times during the acquisition cycle, with the Air Force initially taking
the lead for
the combined program.  This balanced management approach has been
structured to
ensure a truly joint management team and resulting product.  A combined
request for
proposal for the pre-system development and demonstration phase is being
developed.
     For more information please call the Air Force press desk at
(703)695-0640.
[Web Version: http://www.dod.mil/releases/2003/nr20031121-0682.html]
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