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Rack MW – Case Studies — Major Weapons Systems Development
Aisle M — Modernization
Library: Main Page — Professional Development (A) — Defense Enterprise (E) — Force Structure (F) — Modernization (M) — Personnel (P) — Readiness (R) — Special Enterprises (S) — Resource Management (X) — References (Z)
Modernization (M): Acquisition Frameworks (MA) — Capabilities Development (MC) — Defense Industrial Base (MD) — Program Management (MP) — Requirements Development (MR) — Science & Technology (MS) — Research, Development, Test, & Evaluation (MT) — Major Weapons Systems (MW)
Disclaimer: The inclusion of resources here is for informational, historical, and research purposes only and is provided as a service for US Army War College faculty, students, and graduates to support their educational and professional requirements. These may include outdated or superseded materials. The inclusion of these materials does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
This rack provides resources specific to the development of major weapons systems for the armed forces and includes several case studies from the U.S. Army War College resident and distance programs. The intent is for each case study to have a cover document whether from the War College faculty or faculty of another institution, along with relevant teaching notes and supplementary materials.
This shelf contains general resources on theory and practice related to major weapon system development.
Faculty Publications:
- None.
Laws, Policies, Memos, and Regulations (sorted by regulation number):
- Public Law 111-23, “Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009,” 111th Cong., 1st sess., 2009.
Strategies and Reports:
- Name Redacted, Defense Acquisitions: How DoD Acquires Weapon Systems and Recent Efforts to Reform the Process, Report #RL34026 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2014).
- GAO, Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapons Programs, Report #GAO-08-4678P (Washington, DC: Government Accountability Office, 2008).
- Feickert, Andrew. The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, Report #R45519 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2021).
Commentaries (inclusion does not represent endorsement):
- None.
This shelf includes case studies in major weapon systems acquisition developed or used in the USAWC resident program. All materials below are public domain or releasable.
This case study examines the development and ultimate cancellation of the future combat system. Inclusion of resources in the case study does not constitute endorsement.
- Papers and Teaching Notes:
- Lou Yuengert, “Army Future Combat System Program,” February 2012. Available on request.
- Exhibits:
- Congressional Budget Office, The Army’s Future Combat Systems Program and Alternatives (Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office, 2012).
- Feickert, Andrew. The Army’s Future Combat System (FCS): Background and Issues for Congress, Report #RL32888 (Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office, May 2006).
- Army, “Army Assessment of Congressional Budget Office Study,” Call to Duty, 2006.
- Feickert Updates: May 2008 | November 2008 | August 2009
- Feickert and Nathan J. Lucas, report retitled as Army Future Combat System (FCS) “Spin-Outs” and Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV): Background and Issues for Congress, November 2009.
- Francis, Paul L. DEFENSE ACQUISITIONS: Significant Challenges Ahead in Developing and Demonstrating Future Combat System’s Network and Software, Report #GAO-08-409 (Washington, DC Governmental Accountability Office, 2008).
- Francis, Paul L. DEFENSE ACQUISITIONS: 2009 Review of Future Combat System is Critical to Program’s Direction, Report #GAO-08-638T (Washington, DC Governmental Accountability Office, 2008).
- Grasso, Valerie B., Defense Acquisition: Use of Lead System Integrators (LSIs) — Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress, #RS22631 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, March 2007).
- Additional Resources:
- Eaglen, MacKenzie and Oliver Horn, “Future Combat Systems: A Congressional Guide to Army Modernization,” Heritage Foundation, December 11, 2007, https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/future-combat-systems-congressional-guide-army-modernization
- Goure, Daniel. “Future Combat System: What Went Wrong?” Lexington Institute, February 7, 2011, https://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/future-combat-system-what-went-wrong/
- Kaesar, Hans U., The Future Combat System: What Future Can the Army Afford? (working draft, Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, February 2009), https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/media/csis/pubs/090205_fcsarmy.pdf
- Montgomery, Evan B., “Life After FCS,” Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, August 2009, https://csbaonline.org/research/publications/life-after-fcs
- Pernin, Christopher G. et al., Lessons from the Army’s Future Combat Systems Program (Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2012), https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2012/RAND_MG1206.pdf
- Shanley, Michael G., et al., Supporting Training Strategies for Brigade Combat Teams Using Future Combat Systems (FCS) Technologies (Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2007), https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG538.html
This case study examines the development and complications surrounding the Joint Strike Fighter. Inclusion of resources in the case study does not constitute endorsement. (Note: This section is a stub — materials will be made available in the future.)
- Papers and Teaching Notes:
- Not yet available.
- Exhibits:
- Not yet available.
- Additional Resources:
- Not yet available.
Note: This case study was developed for the Joint Processes and Landpower Development course, the predecessor to Defense Management. Inclusion of resources in the case study does not constitute endorsement. (Note: This section is a stub — materials will be made available in the future.)
- Papers and Teaching Notes:
- Wilson, Jeffrey K., “Case Study: The Defense Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver (DAGR) Program,” January 2006.
- Also Appendix A, “Acquisition Program Base line.”
- Wilson, Jeffrey K., “Case Study: The Defense Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver (DAGR) Program,” January 2006.
- Exhibits:
- Not yet available.
- Additional Resources:
- Not yet available.
These are resources related to a current major weapons system under development, all open source.
- Papers and Teaching Notes:
- None.
- Exhibits:
- Army Futures Command, “Updated Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Characteristics,” memorandum to CSA, May 18, 2020.
- Feickert, Andrew, The Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, Report #IF12094 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2023).
- Additional Resources:
- Not yet available.
Title image credit: U.S. Army photo, public domain.
Modernization (M): Acquisition Frameworks (MA) — Capabilities Development (MC) — Defense Industrial Base (MD) — Program Management (MP) — Requirements Development (MR) — Science & Technology (MS) — Research, Development, Test, & Evaluation (MT) — Major Weapons Systems (MW)
Library: Main Page — Professional Development (A) — Defense Enterprise (E) — Force Structure (F) — Modernization (M) — Personnel (P) — Readiness (R) — Special Enterprises (S) — Resource Management (X) — References (Z)