The Department of Defense has selected 37 projects to
receive Fiscal Year 1997 funding under the Foreign Comparative
Testing (FCT) Program.
The FCT Program tests and evaluates foreign non-
developmental items from U.S. allies and other friendly nations
to determine whether the equipment can satisfy U.S. armed forces
requirements or correct mission area shortcomings. Foreign non-
developmental items offer cost-effective alternatives to new, and
perhaps unnecessary, U.S. developmental efforts and reduce the
time to field equipment needed by the warfighter. By evaluating
foreign alternatives, FCT stimulates competition from U.S.
manufacturers; however, safeguards are in place to ensure that
U.S. manufacturers are not placed at any disadvantage and that
U.S. industrial base issues are considered.
Foreign Comparative Testing projects are nominated annually
by U.S. Special Operations Command and the military services to
the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Each proposed project is
screened to ensure the item is non-developmental, there is a
valid requirement, a market survey has been conducted, and the
sponsoring organization has a viable strategy to purchase the
foreign item if it tests successfully and offers best value.
The FCT Program, authorized by Congress in 1989, is
administered by the Director, Test, Systems Engineering, and
Evaluation in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
(Acquisition and Technology).
Of the thirty-seven projects selected for FY 97 FCT funding, 22 are
new starts and 15 are continuations of previously- approved projects.
Nine projects are sponsored by the Army, 14 by the Navy and Marine Corps,
11 by the Air Force, and 3 by the U.S. Special Operations Command. A list
of the FY97 projects is attached. Additional FCT Program information is
available on the FCT Homepage on the World Wide Web at http://www.acq.osd.mil/cto.
FCT PROJECTS SELECTED FOR FY 1997
ARMY
AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL AGENT DETECTOR ALARM (UK) *
JOINT RANGER ANTI-ARMOR WEAPON SYSTEM AMMUNITION UPGRADE I (SWEDEN) *
ADVANCED TACTICAL PARACHUTE SYSTEM (FRANCE, UK, SPAIN, SOUTH
AFRICA)
IMPROVED MOBILE SUBSCRIBER EQUIPMENT UHF RADIOS (CANADA,
ISRAEL, GERMANY, SWEDEN)
INSENSITIVE MUNITIONS HELLFIRE MISSILE MOTOR (UK)
STANDARD ADVANCED DEWAR ASSEMBLY I (UK, GERMANY, FRANCE)
TACTICAL SHOWER UNIT (FRANCE)
1.75-WATT LINEAR DRIVE COOLER (GERMANY)
7.62MM SHORT RANGE TRAINING AMMUNITION (CANADA)
NAVY/MARINE CORPS
ATMOSPHERIC DIVING SUIT (NEWTSUIT) (CANADA) *
BEARING AMBIGUITY RESOLVING SONAR (UK) *
CLOSE AIR SUPPORT/ALL-UP ROUND UNITARY WARHEADS (FRANCE,
ISRAEL, UK) *
COMMUNICATIONS FAIRED MAST (UK) *
MOBILE TORPEDO COUNTERMEASURES (C303S) (ITALY) *
MODULAR 5/54 GUN SYSTEM FOR DDG-51 CLASS SHIPS (GERMANY) *
SPECIAL WARFARE MINEHUNTING OUTBOARD MOTOR (UK) *
SURFACE SHIP PERISCOPE DETECTION RADAR (AUSTRALIA) *
ATTITUDE HEADING REFERENCE SYSTEM (ITALY)
EMERGENCY EVACUATION HYPERBARIC STRETCHERS (ITALY, UK)
M-31 SUPERSONIC SEA SKIMMING TARGET MISSILE, EXTENDED RANGE
(RUSSIA)
NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS SYSTEM (DENMARK)
REMOTE OPERATING VEHICLE HOT TAP AND PUMP SYSTEM (NORWAY)
TITANIUM NITRIDE COATINGS FOR COMPRESSOR BLADES (RUSSIA)
AIR FORCE
INFRARED FLARE FOR THE C-17 AIRCRAFT (GERMANY) *
MILSTAR TRAVELING WAVE TUBE (FRANCE) *
MODULAR RECONNAISSANCE POD (DENMARK) *
RENAISSANCE VIEW SATELLITE IMAGERY (CANADA, FRANCE) *
F-15 COUNTERMEASURES DISPENSER (SWEDEN)
F-16 600-GALLON WING TANKS (ISRAEL)
MICRO-SATELLITE FOR SPACE EXPERIMENTS (UK)
NEXT GENERATION SMALL LOADER (AUSTRALIA, UK)
NIGHT VISION GOGGLE CAMERA (ISRAEL)
PARACHUTE FLARE PYLON FOR THE F-16 (ISRAEL)
SUPPORTABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR AFFORDABLE FIGHTER STRUCTURES CASTING COMPARISON (RUSSIA)
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (SOCOM)
CHEMRING CHAFF BLOCK (UK) *
JOINT RANGER ANTI-ARMOR WEAPON SYSTEM AMMUNITION UPGRADE II
(SWEDEN)
M72 LIGHT ANTI-TANK WEAPON INSENSITIVE ROCKET MOTOR PROPELLANT
(UK)
* CONTINUING PROJECTS
A brief description of each project follows.
PROJECTS SELECTED FOR FY97 FCT PROGRAM FUNDING
U.S. ARMY CONTINUING PROJECTS
Automatic Chemical Agent Detector Alarm (UK).
The focus of the
automatic chemical agent detector alarm FCT project is to provide
the U.S. Army and Air Force with critically needed automatic
blister agent and enhanced nerve agent detection capabilities.
The UK candidate, developed by Graseby Ionics, was selected to
continue into final qualification.
Joint RAAWS Ammunition Upgrade (Sweden).
Produced by Bofors of
Sweden, the Joint Ranger Anti-Armor Weapon System (JRAAWS)
Ammunition Upgrade Project evaluates an improved series of 84 mm
rounds for the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle to determine if they
meet military standards for dual safe fuzes for insensitive
munitions. Additionally, a training round that does not have an
explosive warhead and is range safe after firing is being
evaluated for non-rocket assisted rounds.
U.S. ARMY NEW START PROJECTS
Advanced Tactical Parachute System (France, UK, Spain, South
Africa).
The advanced tactical parachute system project
evaluates an integrated main and reserve parachute mounted on the
soldier's back. This arrangement eliminates the bulky front
mounted reserve parachute currently in use and simplifies the
parachute harness design. The candidate systems are manufactured
by Aerazur (France), Irvin Industries (UK), Parafly (Spain), and
Parachute Industries of Southern Africa (South Africa).
Improved Mobile Subscriber Equipment UHF Radios (Canada, Israel,
Germany, Sweden).
This project evaluates mobile subscriber
equipment UHF radios developed by Marconi of Canada (Canada),
Tadiran (Israel), Siemens (Germany), and Ericsson (Sweden) to
determine if they meet U.S. Army requirements for improved
operation and performance, improved soldier machine
interfaces, and enhanced electronic warfare vulnerability
resistance. The test evaluates the
performance and suitability of the products for replacement of
existing AN/GRC-226 radios currently used in the mobile
subscriber equipment system and the area common user system.
Insensitive Munitions HELLFIRE Missile Motor (UK).
This project
is to qualify an insensitive munitions missile motor for the
HELLFIRE missile to improved safety. The candidate is developed
by British Aerospace Defense-Royal Ordnance Rocket Motors
Division. If qualified, the insensitive motor will be a direct
replacement for the existing HELLFIRE missile motor with
replacement of the existing motor beginning in FY 98/99.
Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly I (UK, Germany, France).
A Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly (SADA) is the detector module
in an infrared imaging system. Advanced SADAs allow infrared
systems to detect images and identify targets at significantly
greater distances than first generation devices. This project
evaluates SADA I candidates developed by GEC Marconi (UK), AEG
(Germany), and SOFRADIR (France) for potential use in major
systems such as Comanche and Apache helicopter upgrades.
Tactical Shower Unit (France). A tactical shower unit,
manufactured by SERT and in service with the French Army, will be
evaluated to determine whether it meets requirements for U.S.
Army contingency operations.
1.75 Watt Linear Drive Cooler (Germany).
Linear drive coolers
are used for closed cycle cryogenic cooling of focal plane arrays
in second-generation infrared imaging systems. The German AEG
cooler will be evaluated for use in the Standard Advanced Dewar
Assembly I (SADA I) modules scheduled for installation in major
systems such as Comanche and the Apache helicopter upgrade.
7.62 mm Short Range Training Ammunition (Canada).
The 7.62 mm
training cartridge developed by SNC of Canada is designed for use
on ranges where bullets traveling beyond standard target
distances pose safety problems. The training cartridge can be
used safely with no damage to training sites, and the cartridge
will be evaluated for potential U.S. Army type classification and
fielding.
NAVY/MARINE CORPS CONTINUING PROJECTS
Atmospheric Diving Suit (NEWTSUIT) (Canada).
The NEWTSUIT is a
lightweight atmospheric diving system developed by International
Hard Suit which allows divers to work comfortably and safely in
water depths down to 1,000 feet. The system relies on pressure
balanced rotary joints to provide advanced range of motion in the
limbs. The FCT evaluation will determine whether NEWTSUIT meets
a Navy requirement for a submarine rescue diving and
recompression system.
Bearing Ambiguity Resolving Sonar (BARS) (UK).
Manufactured by
British Aerospace (BaeSEMA), BARS improves torpedo detection by
providing rapid single sensor location of incoming threats which
allows for more effective countermeasures. BARS provides
instantaneous towed array bearing ambiguity resolution of
incoming torpedoes independent of either the ship's maneuver or
convergence delay requirements.
Close Air Support/ All-Up Round Unitary Warheads (France, Israel,
UK).
The Matra Defense (France) and Rafael (Israel) blast-
fragmentation penetrating warheads and the British Aerospace
Defense-Royal Ordnance Rocket Motors Division (UK) shaped charge
warhead are being evaluated by the Navy to meet the Joint Stand-
Off Weapon (JSOW) unitary insensitive warhead requirement.
Communications Faired Mast (UK). The British candidate under FCT
evaluation is a composite submarine antenna faired mast developed
by Marconi Underwater Systems Limited. The fabrication method
produces a single-piece faired mast that has the potential to
reduce fabrication and maintenance costs for the Navy's submarine
periscope mounted High Data Rate Communications System.
Mobile Torpedo Countermeasure (C303S) (Italy).
Developed by
Whitehead, the C303S is a self-propelled mobile torpedo
countermeasure device launchable from submarines. The C303S
device is under FCT evaluation to determine if it satisfies the
Navy Acoustic Device-Countermeasure (ADC) EX-11 program
requirements for submarine-launched mobile countermeasures.
Modular 5"/54 Gun System For DDG-51 Class Ships (Germany).
The
Modular Gun System consists of a 5"/54 caliber gun installed in a
module developed by Blohm & Voss. The module is fully outfitted
with all gun ancillary equipment and provides the gun its
structural support and contains all gun/ship system
interconnections. The modular concept allows significant
shipbuilding cost advantages due to reduced outfitting and
checkout time and enhances installation standardization.
Special Warfare Mine Hunting Outboard Motor (UK).
Mine hunting
safety considerations require low signature equipment to avoid
unintended detonations. A low magnetic signature outboard motor,
developed by E.P. Barrus and in use by the British Special Boat
Service, is being evaluated to determine if it meets Marine
Corps, Navy, and USSOCOM requirements.
Surface Ship Periscope Detection Radar (Australia).
Developed
by CEA Technologies PTY, the surface ship periscope detection
radar consists of a radar tracker and software for specific
target detection and operator alert. The system is being
evaluated against a commander-in-chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet,
requirement for an affordable interim submarine mast detection
system for shallow water anti-submarine warfare and littoral
warfare.
NAVY/MARINE CORPS NEW START PROJECTS
Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) (Italy).
An Attitude
Heading Reference System manufactured by Litton Italia will be
evaluated to determine whether it meets a Navy requirement to
replace the unreliable systems currently in use on Navy aircraft.
The Italian candidate is fielded in Italian Navy SH-3D aircraft.
Emergency Evacuation Hyperbaric Stretchers (Italy, UK).
Developed by GSE Trieste (Italy) and SOS Ltd (UK), these
portable, collapsible chambers provide casualty evacuation from a
submerged submarine to land-based hospitals. This FCT evaluation
will determine whether the items meet requirements for
integration into the Navy's Submarine Rescue Diving and
Recompression System (SRDRS).
M-31 Supersonic Sea Skimming Target, Extended Range (Russia).
The M-31 SSST, developed by Zvezda Design and Experiment Bureau,
began FCT evaluation in FY 95 to determine whether it meets Navy
target requirements to simulate low altitude and speed
characteristics of current anti-ship missile threats. This FCT
evaluates an extended range variant of the M-31 sea skimming anti-
ship weapon.
Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Analysis System (Denmark).
Developed by Bruhn NewTech, the NBC Analysis system is a
component of the Joint Warning and Reporting Network (JWARN).
The core of the JWARN is the NBC analysis system software. The
system is being tested to determine if it would provide the
military services with a state-of-the-art, compact computerized
system that rapidly and reliably predicts the effects of chemical
attacks and incidents.
Remote Operating Vehicle Hot Tap & Pump System (Norway).
This
FCT will evaluate an advanced oil recovery system in use by the
Norwegian government to determine whether it is a cost-effective
alternative to similar U.S. operations using deep-diving
techniques. Manufactured by Frank Mohn Flatoy, the system is a
hot-tap integrated with a submersible discharge pump which is
mounted on a remotely-operated vehicle. The system is used to
recover oil and other pollutants from sunken ships.
Titanium Nitride Coatings for Compressor Blades (Russia).
This
project evaluates a titanium nitride coating developed by PRAD
which is used in Russian civil and military aircraft engines.
Titanium nitride coated blades will be evaluated on U.S. military
engine components to determine if there is a reduction in
compressor blade erosion, thereby achieving significant cost
savings due to reduced vane blade scrap rates.
AIR FORCE CONTINUING PROJECTS
Infrared Flare for the C-17 Aircraft (Germany).
This FCT project
assesses the effectiveness of a Buck Industries infrared flare to
protect Air Force C-17 aircraft when combined with
countermeasures suites being examined by the Air Force's Advanced
Strategic and Tactical Infrared Expendables (ASTE) program.
MILSTAR Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) (France).
The traveling wave
tube, developed by Thomson Tubes Electroniques of France, is
designed for increased operational life in high power amplifiers.
The French item is being evaluated by the Air Force for use in
ground and airborne terminals for MILSTAR, a joint service
survivable satellite communication system. The tube under
evaluation is air-cooled, provides more power than present tubes,
and incorporates a less expensive, more reliable, off-the-shelf
cathode.
Modular Reconnaissance Pod (Denmark).
The Per Udsen-manufactured
modular reconnaissance pod is currently in service with the Royal
Danish Air Force on its F-16s. The modular reconnaissance pod is
designed to accept various sensor packages without modification.
This evaluation determines if the pod meets Air Force
requirements for a reconnaissance pod capable of housing current
and future sensor packages.
Renaissance View Satellite Imagery (Canada, France).
The
renaissance view FCT evaluates electro-optical and synthetic
aperture radar imagery available from multiple commercial foreign
satellites for possible inclusion in the Eagle Vision mobile
ground station. Commercial satellites provide low-cost gap
fillers to existing surveillance satellites and dramatically
improve information access for a joint or combined commander in
the field due to real-time data delivery, all-weather capability,
and the absence of security releasability caveats.
AIR FORCE NEW START PROJECTS
F-15 Countermeasures Dispenser (Sweden).
This FCT project
evaluates a Celsius Tech countermeasures dispenser for Air Force
F-15s. This same dispenser was previously tested under the FCT
program and procured by the Navy for their F-14 aircraft.
F-16 600-Gallon Tanks (Israel). This FCT evaluates 600-gallon
fuel tanks and pylons in service on Israeli F-16s. These fuel
tanks developed by TAAS Israel Industries would supplement or
replace the 370-gallon external fuel wing tanks and jettisonable
pylons currently on some configurations of Air Force F-16s.
Micro-Satellite for Space Experiments (UK).
This FCT project
evaluates hardware and services developed by Surrey Satellite
Technology, Ltd., to determine whether Air Force requirements for
low-cost, quick-response space flight missions to fly DOD space
experiments can be met with an off-the-shelf micro-satellite
spacecraft bus.
Next Generation Small Loader (Australia, UK).
This FCT project
will evaluate two foreign loaders to determine if they meet Air
Force requirements for the next generation of aircraft cargo
loaders to replace the aging and unreliable 25,000-pound loaders
currently in the inventory. The candidates are developed by
Static Engineering (Australia) and Aircraft Maintenance Support
Services (UK).
Night Vision Goggle Camera (Israel).
This FCT will test a Genop,
Ltd. camera and optics system that can be mated to current U.S.
Night Vision Goggle (NVG) hardware to record images
seen by a pilot flying actual or training missions. The camera
can be used for both training and actual night mission
reconstruction and debriefing.
Parachute Flare Pylon for the F-16 (Israel).
TAAS of Israel has
developed a wing pylon for the F-16 which can carry flares and
other stores. The wing pylon will allow Air Force F-16s to carry
visible flares or covert illumination flares for night vision
goggle missions when low or no light conditions exist.
Supportable Technology for Affordable Fighter Structures Casting
Comparison (Russia).
This FCT will evaluate advanced fabrication
technology for fighter aircraft structures. A center
fuselage section developed by the All Russian Institute of
Aviation (VIAM) will be used to determine the structural
integrity, affordability and supportability of advanced metallic
technologies. The fuselage casting represents a single seat
fighter configuration that may have similar characteristics to
potential future fighters such as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND CONTINUING PROJECTS
Chemring Chaff Block (UK).
The chaff block developed by
Chemring, Ltd., is a disposable chaff countermeasure unit that
provides a matrix of 60 chaff cells. The chaff block will be
installed on Air Force special operations C-130 aircraft for
evaluation. The chaff block is expected to double the number of
chaff bursts currently available while reducing munitions loading
manpower requirements, reducing item costs, and increasing
reliability.
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND NEW START PROJECTS
Joint RAAWS Ammunition Upgrade Phase II (Sweden).
Insensitive
munitions are critical for jointly-deployed combat units due to
transportability safety issues. This FCT evaluates two types of
insensitive munitions ammunition for final certification, and
also evaluates an anti-personnel round for type classification
and fielding. All the items being evaluated are developed by
Bofors AB for the 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle.
M72 LAW Insensitive Rocket Motor Propellant (UK).
The M72 Light
Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) and its replenishment ammunition are
currently being procured for Navy Special Warfare teams under an
insensitive munitions waiver. The British Aerospace-Royal
Ordnance Division produced insensitive rocket motor propellant is
being evaluated to determine if it satisfies the U.S. M72 LAW
insensitive munitions requirement.
