THE LOGIC OF FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMSTHE LOGIC OF FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMS

• TheArmy’sFutureCombatSystems(FCS)programisafamilyofgroundcombatvehiclesandunmannedreconnaissanceaircrafttiedtogetherbyahigh-capacitywirelessnetwork.ItisthecenterpieceofArmymodernizationefforts,consumingaboutfourpercentoftheservice’sbudgetoverthenexttwodecades.

• Theneedforanetwork-enabledfamilyofcombatsystemsisdrivenbytheemergenceofnewthreatsandtheincreasingsophisticationofmoretraditionalthreats.Thenewthreatsincludeunconventionalchallengessuchasterroristsandinsurgents,whilethetraditionalthreatsmainlyinvolveconventionalforcesthathavebecomemorepotentduetothegrowingavailabilityofprecisionmunitions,advancedsensors,digitalcommunicationsandweaponsofmassdestruction.

• FutureCombatSystemswasconceivedtobolsterArmycombatcapabilitiesacrossthe fullspectrumofpotentialmilitarychallenges.Usingnewtechnologies,embeddedtrainingandagiletactics,FCSenablessoldierstostayconnectedincombat,detectanddestroythreatsfaster,protectthemselvesmoreeffectively,andprojectpowerwhereveritisneededonshortnotice.

• ThecoreelementsofFCSare14differentcombatsystemsunitedbyasharednetwork,organizationandconceptofoperations.Becausetheyarelinkedtogetherviaaresilientandversatilenetwork,soldiersequippedwithFCScapabilitieswillenjoyunprecedentedsituationalawarenessandoperationalflexibility,permittingthemtoachievecombatobjectivesmoreefficientlywhileriskingasfewlivesaspossible.

• FutureCombatSystemsistheessentialnextstepbeyondresettingexistingequipmentsothatsoldierscanbepreparedforthefightsofthefuture.Ifitisnotimplementedasplanned,moresoldierswilldieduetolackofadequateawareness,agilityandprotection,whiletheArmywillhavetospendasimilaramountofmoneyonlesseffectiveresponsestotheemergingthreat.

FINDINGS IN BRIEF

This reportwaswrittenbyDr. LorenThompsonof the Lexington Institute staff aspart of the Institute’s continuingeffort toanalyzemilitarytechnologyrequirementsandacquisitionpractices.

America’s Army has begun the most far-reachingmodernizationofitswarfightingcapabilitiesinfortyyears.CalledtheFutureCombatSystems,orFCS, theprogramisdesignedtoreshapetheArmysoitcanrespondquicklyanddecisivelytoemergingthreats.Itdoesthisbyadaptingnewtechnologytothedemandsofthefuturebattlefield,andthenadjustingtacticsandtrainingtomakemaximumuseofthecapabilitiesthenewtechnologydelivers.

THE LOGIC OF FCS

1

FCS DOMINATES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CONFLICT

Soldiers Conducting NetworkEnabled Land Warfare

Network EnabledAir and Naval Operations

Dominate Land Battle Dominate Air & Sea Battle

AttheheartoftheFCSconceptisawirelessnetworkthatlinks

each soldier to all the capabilities of the joint force, enabling

unprecedentedgainsinbattlefieldawareness,precision,protection

and agility. But unlike other networking initiatives begun under

the banner of transformation, Future Combat Systems has been

shaped by the lessons of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The

capabilities it provides are needed today, and the program has

alreadybegundeliveringnewwarfightingtoolstosoldiers.

ThisreportexplainsthebasiclogicofFutureCombatSystems,

detailinghowtheprogramwouldenableeachsoldier toachieve

combatobjectivesmoresafelyandsuccessfully.Italsodescribes

howFCSwouldimprovefunctionsperformedfarfromthebattlefield,

suchastrainingandlogistics.Thereportconsistsoffourparts:

• Anexaminationoftheemergingthreatsthatmade

FCSnecessary.

• AnexpositionofhowFCSusesnewtechnologyto

addressthosethreats.

• Anexplanationofwhyspecificelementswereincluded

inthefinalFCSdesign.

• AnexplorationofhowsoldiersequippedwithFCSwill

bebetterabletofightandwin.

FutureCombatSystems isnota traditionalweaponsystem,

it is a framework for waging war in a period of rapid and

unpredictablechange.Itassumesthattheindividualsoldierwill

remainatthecenteroflandwarfarefortheforeseeablefuture,and

therefore seeks to equip that soldierwith competencies and

capabilities thatwouldhavebeen impossible in an earlier time.

ThefactthattheArmybelievesthiscanbeaccomplishedforbarely

fourpercentofitsbudgetoverthenexttwodecadesisatestamentto

thepotentialofnewtechnologyandtheskillofAmericansoldiers.

Duringthe20thCentury,democracywasthreatenedbythree

great waves of danger. Imperialism causedWorldWar One.

FascismcausedWorldWarTwo.CommunismcausedtheCold

War.Ineachcase,dictatorstriedtoharnesstheindustrialmightof

theirnationstohalthumanity’slongmarchtofreedom.Theywere

defeatedbecausewesterndemocracieswerebetteratdevelopingand

employingnewtoolsofwar,fromtankstosubmarinestobombersto

ballisticmissiles.

Today, both the threats that endanger democracy and the

technologiesthatdefinewarfightinghavechanged.Thepossibility

ofconventionalcombatwithotherindustrialpowerspersists,but

inadditionadiverse collectionof newenemieshas emerged --

suicidebombers, insurgents,weapons traffickers,cyber-terrorists

--whouseunconventional tacticstosubvert freedom.Allof the

enemies,newandold,benefitfromtheavailabilityoftechnologies

likecellphonesandtheinternetthatenablethemtocarryoutmass

murderwhileeludingdetectionordirectcombat.

CHANGING THREATS CREATED THE NEED FOR FCS

3

FCS DOMINATES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF CONFLICT

Robotic vehicles are heavily used by U.S. forces in Iraq to clear buildings, search for roadside bombs and in general keep soldiers out of dangerous situations. The prototype Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle shown in this FCS exercise will provide a robotic system that is more portable and versatile than those in use today.

To a greater degree than in the past, today’s adversaries

operateonthegroundratherthanintheairorontheseas.They

hideincitiesandmountainsandjungles,wheretheirmovements

arenearlyimpossibletotrackusingremotesensingdevices.The

onlywaytheycanbefoundanddefeatedistoconfrontthemonthe

terraintheyhavechosen,employingbettertoolsandtacticstowin

overlocalpeoplewhilegraduallywearingtheenemydown.

Astheworld’sleadingpractitioneroflandwarfare,America’s

Armyfacestwofundamentalchallengesinpreparingforthisrapidly

changinglandscape.First,itmustfieldaforcethatcansurviveand

wininplaceswhereallthetraditionalfeaturesofabattlefield--front

lines,enemyformations,secureareas--aremissing.Theelusive

adversariesthatinhabitsuchsettingswilloftenbeindistinguishable

fromnoncombatantsandwillemploymethodsutterlyatoddswith

thelawsofwar.YettheArmymustexhibitrestraintandsensitivityif

itistowinthesupportofcivilianswhoarethekeytovictory.

Second, the Army somehow must posture itself for

unconventional warfare while still being prepared to cope with

thehigh-intensity aggression likely to bemountedbyother

industrializedcountries.ManyoftheforeignmilitariestheArmy

mighthavetofightinthefuturewillpossesskillingsystemsmore

lethalthananythingithasfacedinthepast,includingnervegas,

pathogensandevennuclearweapons.Theunpredictabilityofcombat

in a world where traditional threats are more potent and

non-traditional threats are more numerous convinced Army

leadersanewapproachtowarfarewasneeded.

Future Combat Systems was conceived to prepare each

soldier for the full spectrumof future conflict, frompeacekeeping

to counter-insurgency to conventional combat. It does this

by integrating technology, training and tactics in a posture

thatprovideseachwarfighterwithunprecedentedagilityand

awareness.Thecoreofthesystemisaresilientwirelessnetwork

thattiestogetherallfriendlyforcesinawarzone,enablingthemto

shareinformationandcapabilities.Thenetworkwillenableclosely

coordinatedmaneuversbymannedandunmannedvehicles that

afford far greater survivability and firepower than the coldwar

systemscurrentlydominatingtheforce.

TheArmydoesnotharborany illusions that technologycan

taketheplaceofthehumanelementinwarfare.ThegoalofFCS

istoharnessnewtechnologyinsupportofsoldiers,sothatthey

canapply their skills and imagination unhampered by lack of

information or chores best left to machines. For example,

wide-areasurveillanceisperformedbyunmannedaerialvehicles

andsearchesofdangerousplacesliketunnelsisconductedwith

smallrobots,tacticsalreadytestedinIraqandAfghanistan(where

4,000robotsand1,000unmannedaerialvehiclesareinusetoday).

TheFCSdesignusesnewtechnologytosupportfourbasicgoals:

connection,detection,protectionandprojection.

HOW FCS TECHNOLOGY HELPS SOLDIERS

5

CONNECT-DETECT-PROJECT-PROTECT

Connectionisthemostfundamentalgoal,becauseitislack

ofcommunicationamongsoldiersthatcreatestheconfusionand

mistakespractitionerscall“thefogofwar.”FCSequipseachsoldier

andvehiclewithredundantlinkstoalltheotherfriendlyforcesin

thewarzone,sothereisnodoubtaboutwherefriendlyforcesare.

Every soldierwill share a commonoperating picture created by

fusing togetherobservations fromhundredsofdifferentplaces in

thebattlearea.Thispervasiveconnectivitywillpermittheforceto

coordinateitsmaneuversmuchmoreprecisely,maximizingeffects

againstenemieswhileminimizingthefratricidecausedbyfriendlyfire.

Detection of elusive adversaries quickly is a second goal

indispensable to thesurvivalandsuccessofU.S. forces. The

connectivityprovidedbytheFCSnetworkallowseachwarfighterto

generatereconnaissanceforthewholeforce,becauseobservations

canbeprocessedandsharedat thespeedof light. Inaddition,

theentirebattleareawillbefilledwithlow-costsensors,manyof

themunattended,thatcancollectandfusetelltalesignsofenemy

presence--fromthesoundofbootstotheheatofenginestothe

electricalemissionsofcellphones.Informationcollectedbyother

militaryservicesandintelligenceagencieswillbecontinuouslyfed

intotheArmy’snetworkandintegratedwithsoldierreconnaissance

in a composite picture that is easily interpreted. Unpleasant

surpriseswillstilloccur,buttheywillbelessfrequentandlessfatal.

ProtectionofU.S.forcesagainstawiderangeofconventional

andunconventionalkillmechanismswillbeengineeredintoevery

FCSvehicle,andintotheequipmentandbodyarmoreverysoldier

uses. TheArmyhas learned the lessonof Iraq thatwell-defined

front linesarea thingof thepast, soFCSprovideseachsoldier

withpassiveandactivedefenses fargreater than those found in

existingfightingsystems.Forinstance,everymannedvehiclein

theFCSdesignwillprovide360-degreeprotectionagainstmachine

guns, rocket-propelledgrenades, anti-tankweapons, improvised

explosivedevicesandeventheelectromagneticpulseofanuclear

bomb.Notonlywillthevehicleshavebetterarmor,greateragility

andenhancedawarenessofthreats,buttheywillcarrydefensive

weaponsthatcandetectandinterceptincomingprojectiles.

Projection is the ability tomove forces to remote locations

quickly,agoalthathasbeencentraltothedesignofFCSfromits

inception.RapiddeploymenthasalwaysbeenachallengeforU.S.

forcesbecauseofthelongdistancesfromAmericatotherestofthe

world,andtheadvantagesofimprovedtransportationl ikecargo

jetshavebeenundercutby thegrowingweightand logistical

requirements of the modern Army. Future Combat Systems

addressesthechallengeoffastprojectionbygreatlyreducingthe

weightofvehicles,therequirementsforskilledmanpower,andthe

volumeofsuppliesthatmustbemoved.Thewholeforcebecomes

easier tomove, and supply problems are further reduced by a

networkthatcontinuallymonitorswarfighterneeds.

7

FCS unattended sensors will monitor enemy movements in cities and remote terrain without requiring U.S. soldiers to be present.

A ROBUST, RESILIENT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKSpace Layer•CommercialSATCOM•WidebandGlobalSystem (WGS)•AdvancedEHF(AEHF)•MobileUserObjectiveSystem (MUOS)

Aerial Layer•UnmannedAerialVehicles (UAV)•JointTacticalRadioSystem (JTRS)•WarfighterInformation Network-Tactical (WIN-T)

Terrestrial Layer•JointTacticalRadioSystem (JTRS)•WarfighterInformation Network-Tactical (WIN-T)

•SoldierRadioWaveform (SRW)

•WidebandNetworking Waveform(WNW)

The challenge of sustaining a fast-moving force in the field

deservesfurtherdiscussion,becauselogisticshasoftenprovento

betheAchillesHeelofarmiesinthepast.FutureCombatSystems

hasbeendesignedtogreatlyreducethemaintenanceandsupport

burdensassociatedwithprotractedoperationsinplaceslikeIraq.

AnFCSbrigadecombatteamwillbeabletosustainitselfatahigh

operatingtempofor three timesaslongasoneof today’sheavy

brigades while only fielding a third asmany support personnel

due to smart design and operational concepts. Today’s combat

vehicles require an hour ofmaintenance for every two hours of

operations,butFCSwillraisethatratiotoonemaintenancehour

forevery20operationalhoursbyusingcommonpartsacross

thefleet,simplifyingrepairtasks,andanticipatingproblemsbefore

theyarise.A typicalFCSbrigadewillsave$1.5billionperyear

insupportcostscomparedwithtoday’sunits,sotheprogramwill

quicklypayforitselfinreducedfuel,partsandpersonneloutlays.

Theinformationrevolutionhasspawnedhundredsofinnovations

potentiallyrelevanttotheconductoflandwarfare.TheArmyand

itscontractorshadtosortthroughtheseinnovationstodetermine

whichoffered themost leverage in futurecombat,andhow they

couldbe integrated intoaflexible, resilient forceposture. Itwas

decidedearlyonthatthebasicfightingunitofthefutureshouldbe

abrigadecombatteamratherthanthebigger,morecumbersome

divisionsofcoldwaryears(acoldwarbrigadetypicallyconsisted

ofover10,000troopsorganizedinthreebrigades).

Future Combat Systems has been designed around the

anticipated warfighting needs of tomorrow’s brigade combat

teams. Notonlywill it fullyequipaselectportionoftheArmy’s

brigades,butitwillprovideconnectivityandawarenesstoallthe

otherbrigadesintheforcetofashionatrulyunifiedfightingforce.

Eventually the entire active and reserve-component forcewill be

equippedwithFCStechnology,butintheneartermthemainthrustof

developmenthasbeenfocusedonthebrigadesthatwillbeequipped

withthefullrangeofnewsystems,beginningearlyinthenextdecade.

Manyof thenewsystemsarebeingdeployed to thecurrent

force in IraqandAfghanistanas theybecomeavailable,but the

overallFCSconceptcannotbegraspedwithoutdelineatingthecore

elementsthatafullymodernizedbrigadewouldcontain.TheArmy

sometimesusestheshorthandof14+1+1todescribethesecore

elements,meaningthatthereare14newwarfightingsystemsplus

anetworkplusthesoldier,withthesoldierbeingatthecenterofthe

wholescheme.IfanFCSbrigadecombatteamwerealivingbeing,

thentheindividualsoldierwouldbeitsbrain,thenetworkwouldbe

theconnectivetissueintegratingalloftheappendages,andthe14

warfightingsystemswouldbethearms,legsandsensoryapparatus

withwhichthesoldierperceivesandshapesthebattlefield.

THE CORE ELEMENTS OF FCS

9

An unmanned Multifunctional Utility/Logistics & Equipment (MULE)vehicledesignedforuseininfantryandairassaultoperations.

The Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle will enable combat units to view contested areas from above with a variety of sensors. Recent combat experience has demonstrated a need for aerial surveillance systems that can be used quickly by troops under fire.

The FCS network is sometimes described as the central

elementintheoveralldesign,butthatisonlytrueinanengineering

sense.Therealcentralelementistheindividualsoldier,because

itisunlikelythatmachinescouldevertaketheplaceofseasoned

warfighters inapplyingexperience, judgmentand imagination to

thedynamicdemandsofcombat.IntheFCSconcept,thenetwork

andthevariouswarfightingsystemsitconnectsaresimplyextensions

oftheindividualsoldier,designedtosupporthisneedsandexecute

hisdecisions.

However, that is no easy task on amodern battlefield, and

thenetworkthatprovidesthe“glue”forFutureCombatSystemsisa

multi-layeredsystemfarsurpassingthecapabilitiesofanyexisting

warfightingnetwork.Amongotherthings,theFCSnetworkmustsupport:

• Acommonoperatingpictureforallsoldiersinthewarzone.

• Aresilientcommunicationslinkforwarfighterson

themove.

• Acommandmechanismforclosecoordinationof

dispersedforces.

• Aplanningenvironmentforde-conflicting

diversemissions.

• Afusionsystemforquicklyintegratingandsharing

vitalintelligence.

Thechallengeofperformingtheseandotherchoresismade

muchharderbytheneedtowithstandenemyattemptstodestroy

orsubvert thenetwork.TheArmyrejectsthenotionof“network-

centric”warfare because itminimizes thehumandimensionsof

combat.Butserviceleadersdowanttotransitiontoa“network-

enabled”postureinwhichwarfightersenjoyallthebenefitsofnew

information technology in terms of connectivity, awareness and

protection. That requiresprovidingeachsoldierwithnetwork

access that is reliable, resilientand robust even in the faceof

severeaggressionsuchastheuseofnuclearweapons.

The 14 warfighting systems included in each FCS brigade

combat teamwill consist of eight typesofmannedground

vehicles and a var ie ty of unmanned systems such as

reconnaissancedronesandbattlefieldsensors.Theeightmanned

vehicles are next-generation armored systems using a common

chassisthataredesignedtoprovidegreatlyenhanceddeployability

andprotectionwhilereducinglogisticalburdensinthewarzone.

Likeexistingarmoredvehicles, theFCSmannedgroundvehicles

willperformarangeoffunctionsfromprecisionfirepowertoinfantry

transporttotacticalreconnaissance,buttheywillbemuchlighter

thancurrentvehicles--withoutsacrificingsurvivability.Theywill

alsobemucheasiertorepairandmaintain.Mostofthesensorsin

theFCSnetworkarecarriedonthesevehicles.

11

FCS SENSOR CAPABILITIES

•Everysensor&vehicleisanodeonthenetwork•Tacticaltonationalsensorslinkedinnearrealtime

Layered,networkedsensorsprovidelocationandidentificationforthreatactivities

UAVCLIV Joint Air ISR

Apache, Armed Recon Helicopter

Reconnaissance&SurveillanceSatellites

UAVCLII

UAVCLIV

R&SV

UAVCLI

ARV-RSTAC2VNLOS-LS

•FinishDecisively•ActFirst

•UnderstandFirst•SeeFirst

UGSIMS

MCSARV-A

NLOS-C

ICV

The six unmanned warfighting systems include two aircraft

used for reconnaissance and surveillance, unattended ground

systemsformonitoringenemymovementsandprovidingtactical

firepower,and roboticvehicles thatcan freesoldiers fromhighly

dangerousorroutinetasks.Theunmannedaircraftwouldenable

soldiers at the platoon and brigade levels to conduct airborne

reconnaissanceof thegroundwithouthaving to relyonmanned

aircraft.Theunattendedgroundsystemswouldpermitwarfighters

todetectandrespondtohostileactionsintheclutterofcitiesand

jungleswithout having to leavepersonnel in exposed locations.

Theroboticvehicleswouldimproveonsystemsalreadyinusein

IraqandAfghanistanforprobingminefields,searchingbuildings,

anddeliveringsupplies.

The real value of Future Combat Systems resides not in its

advancedtechnologyorinnovativeoperatingprinciples,butinthe

wayitanswersthekeyquestionsthatanysoldierincombatmust

pose. Wherearemy friends? Where is theenemy? Howdo I

defendmyself?HowtoIdefeatmyfoe?Whensoldiersareunder

fireandlivesarebeinglost,thosearethefirstquestionstheyask.

FCS is designed to provide the right answers fast -- not just to

commanders,buttoeveryfriendlysoldierinthecombatzone.

Wherearemyfriends?

Eachvehicleanddismountedsoldierwill carryanetworked

globalpositioningdevice thatcontinuously informsother friendly

forcesoftheirpreciselocationandmovements.Inaddition,all

troopswill be connected by a flexible, resilient communications

systemthatallowsthemtosharewhattheysee,whattheyhear,

andwhatthesensorstheycarryaredetecting.Theseobservations

areinstantaneouslyfedintoasystemthatintegrates,interpretsand

displaysallrelevantinformationina“commonoperatingpicture”

availabletoeveryvehicleintheforce.Notonlywillthisconstantly

updatedpicture reportwhereeachsoldier is,but itwill combine

localobservationswiththereconnaissanceofotherjointsensors

suchasunmannedaircraftcirclingoverheadandsatellites.FCS

thuswill pierce the “fog ofwar”more effectively than any other

combatnetwork inhistory,andshare itsbenefitswith individual

soldiersatthespeedoflight.

Whereistheenemy?

Theintegrated,layeredreconnaissancesystemmadepossible

bynetworkedsensorsenablessoldiersto“seefirst,understandfirst,

actfirst.”Mannedandunmannedsensorswillbescatteredacross

andabovethebattlefieldinaseamlesswebthatcanseethrough

darkness,clouds,smokeandelectronicinterference.Therewillbe

multipleperspectivesoneveryevent,sothatgeographyimposes

nolimitationsonsoldiersingraspingwhatishappening.Allofthe

actionsofpossibleenemieswillbetrackedinexquisitedetail,and

thendisplayedinaformthatiseasytoacton.Reconnaissance

inputscanbeeasilymanipulatedbyfriendlyforcestohighlightor

retaskspecificsensors,andthenthefindingscanbequicklyshared

withotherunits.Fewenemieswillbeabletoescapedetectionbythis

pervasivenetwork,andfewerstillwillenjoythekindofsituational

awarenessU.S.forcespossessduringeverymomentofcombat.

FCS IN ACTION

13

The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon developed for the FCS program will provide high rates of precision

fire on an easily-deployed vehicle. It will be much easier to sustain in the field than existing

artillery due to reduced logistics requirements and simplified maintenance procedures.

HowdoIdefendmyself?

Superiorsituationalawarenessisakeyfeatureoftheprotection

affordedeachsoldierbyFutureCombatSystems,butitisonlythe

beginning. FCS technologyprovidesaspectrumofactiveand

passive counters to enemyattacks ranging from stronger armor

andgreateragilitytoelectroniccountermeasuresandan“active

protectionsystem”thatdetectsandinterceptsincomingprojectiles

before they impact on vehicles. Vehicle designs have been

formulated to provide the best protection available against

improvisedexplosivedevices,anti-tankweapons,rocket-propelled

grenades, machine gun fire and even such exotic killing

mechanisms as nerve gas and nuclear effects. In addition,

unmanned systems will be used in place of soldiers on some

missionswherethereisahighdangerofexposuretoattack.Many

FCSforceprotectioninnovationswillbeinfusedintolegacyvehicles

asthenewtechnologyisfielded,butthereisnowaythatolder

vehiclescanbemadeassafeasnew-designsystemsincorporating

allofthelatesttechnology.

HowdoIdefeatmyfoe?

Comprehensive networking of friendly forces will enable

carefully synchronized maneuvers that enemies cannot match.

When combined with detailed, timely situational awareness

underthemosttryingbattlefieldconditions,Americansoldierswill

be able to use the precision lethality delivered by FCS firepower

tomaximumeffect.Mostofthemannedgroundvehiclesandall

dismounted soldiers will be equipped with weapons that far

surpassexistingdevicesinprecision,reach,ratesoffire,reliability

andmaintainability. Inaddition,soldierswillhave theoptionof

employingunmannedkillingsystemsoperatingonorabove the

battlefield. The effectiveness of Army weapons will be further

enhancedbytheabilitytodeploythemquickly,andthensupport

them in thefieldwithanagile,highlyaccurate logisticssystem.

Theendresult isaspectrumoffirepoweroptionsthatwillpermit

tailored effects against any adversary whileminimizing adverse

consequencesfornoncombatants.

Nosingleprogramcansolveeveryproblemthemilitaryfaces.

Fundingwillalwaysbelimited,thefuturewillalwaysbeunpredictable,

and new technology is no substitute forwell-trained troops or

inspiredleadership.Butwithintheconstraintsthatlimitallmilitary

initiatives,FutureCombatSystemsseemstoofferthebestsolution

toemergingArmyneeds.Notonlycanitcopewiththefullrange

ofprospectivethreatsandcontingencies,butitleveragesareasin

whichAmericahasuniqueadvantages--fromthesophisticationof

itssensorstotheinitiativeofitssoldiers.FCSwouldnotbeagood

matchfortheconscriptedmilitaryofaforeigndictatorship,butits

designspeaksdirectlytotheintelligence,disciplineandvaluesof

America’sall-volunteerforce.

15

THE BOTTOM LINE: FCS IS THE BEST SOLUTION

FCSbattlefieldsensorswillgreatlyenhancethesituationalawarenessofsoldiers,bolsteringsurvivalrates.

Withinthatframework,therearefivekeypointsaboutFuture

Combat Systems that explain why it is likely to remain the

centerpieceofArmymodernizationfortheforeseeablefuture:

• Withouttheimprovementsinagility,awarenessand

protectiondeliveredbyFCS,manysoldiersaregoingtodie

unnecessarilyonfuturebattlefieldsasemerging

threatsmature.

• FCStechnologyisalreadymakingadifferenceontoday’s

battlefields,becausenewcapabilitiesarebeingfieldedas

theybecomeavailableinresponsetoneedsidentifiedby

soldiersinIraqandAfghanistan.

• Theprice-tagforfieldingFCSoverthenext20years

representsbarelyfourpercentofprojectedArmyspending

duringthatperiod,andwillenabletheservicetoavoidthe

costofmaintainingmanylegacysystems.

• IfFCSisscaledback,asimilaramountofmoney(ormore)

willneedtobespentonalternatives,sincecoldwar

systemsareoverdueforreplacementandcannotcopewith

emergingdangers.

• FCSisn’tjustthecenterpieceofArmymodernization,it

alsoenablesotherfacetsofimprovementbyprovidingthe

concepts,capabilitiesandsystemsthatwilldefinetheentire

futureArmy.

Thus,theArmyhasnopracticalalternativetoproceedingwith

FutureCombatSystems.Itistheonlyintegratedsolutiontofuture

warfightingneeds thatfitswithin the frameworkof feasibilityand

affordabilityconstrainingallmilitaryefforts.Awholegenerationof

Armyleadershavestressedthe importanceof thecapabilities

thatFCSwilldeliver,andnowtheoperationalneedsstatements

being generated by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan confirm

thatthosecapabilitiesareindeedrequiredinthefieldassoon

as possible. Whatever challenges the future may hold for

America’s warfighters, Future Combat Systems is the closest

thingtheArmyhastoananswer.

FCS lightweight aerial reconnaissance systems can be easily carried andcontrolledbytroopsinthefield.

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaApril2008

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