SYNOPSIS: THE APPLIQUE SYSTEM IS AN EXPERIMENTAL BATTLEFIELD DIGITIZATION COMPUTER SYSTEM CONSISTING OF FOUR BASIC VERSIONS OF HARDWARE INSTALLED ON VEHICLES AND USED BY INDIVIDUAL SOLDIERS; CONNECTED BY A RADIO SYSTEM.
ACQUISITION CATEGORY: III
ACQUISITION PHASE: I Concept Exploration & Demo
PE & LINE #: Money provided by Army Digitization Office Funds.
DESCRIPTION: The Applique Program is the centerpiece of the Army's efforts to digitize a Brigade-size experimental task force at Fort Hood by June 1996. Initially this program will consists of: over 1000 computers installed in Brigade Task Force vehicles and deployed with individual soldiers, software to support lower echelon battle command requirements, systems engineering, training and logistics support. The hardware consists of four basic computers: V1 is the commercial laptop version, V2 is the ruggedized version, V3 is the militarized version, and the Dismounted Soldier System Unit (DSSU) is the version for the soldier to carry which is also called a Pos/Nav Device (PND) when mounted in vehicles. The Applique System will interface with communications and electronic components installed on host platforms, and it will also interoperate with external command and control systems and digital systems embedded on other weapons platforms. Further development of computer hardware and software will follow the Brigade Task Force experiment scheduled for March 1997, at the National Training Center.
TRANSPORTATION CHARACTERISTICS / LIMITATIONS: None.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Aug 94 Solicitation issued.
Jan 95 Contract awarded to TRW.
REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT: Force Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) User Functional Description , Jun 94. Horizontal Integration of Battle Command (HIBC) Mission Need Statement (MNS) was validated by JROC on 10 Jan 95. FBCB2 Operational Requirements Document (ORD) is at TRADOC for final approval and is an interim document until after TFXXI. The final ORD processed in 4th Qtr, FY97.
As part of the battlefield digitization effort, the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below contract was awarded to TRW, Carson, California, 06 January 1995. This contract is also known as "Appliqué", because the computer units will be applied or woven onto existing weapons platforms. The Appliqué contract is for the development test of a set of Appliqué hardware and integration of government-furnished software for use in the Army Experimental Force digitization experiments. The Appliqué contractor is responsible for the integration of four types of computer units into over 50 tactical military platforms, enabling command and combat elements to accurately and instantaneously exchange orders, graphics and situational awareness information. These computer units will replace hand-drawn maps and reduce verbal radio communications with state-of-the-art digital capabilities, enabling the Army to enhance its battle command capability and operational capabilities for Brigade and Below operations. These four computer types are:1) Dismounted Soldier System Unit (DSSU);
In the follow-on Engineering Manufacturing Development Phase (FY97-FY99), a Division size experiment is planned which will generate additional digital storage, communications and information sharing requirements. In the Deployment Phase (FY99-FYXX), sufficient quantities of digital equipment will be acquired to equip a Corps.2) V1 (Commercial); 3) V2 (Ruggedized); and 4) V3 (Militarized).
TYPE CLASSIFICATION: N/A.
EVENT SCHEDULE FISCAL YEAR
96
97
98
99
00
01
QTR
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
Program Reviews
1 2 3
Computer Deliveries
1 2 3
NET
2 3
ILS and Training Support for Exercises/Experiment
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