Improved Operational Testing and Evaluation and Methods of Combining Test Information for the Stryker Family of Vehicles and Related Army Systems

Improved Operational Testing and Evaluation and Methods of Combining Test Information for the Stryker Family of Vehicles and Related Army Systems PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-01-29

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 0309091020

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) is responsible for the operational testing and evaluation of Army systems in development. ATEC requested that the National Research Council form the Panel on Operational Test Design and Evaluation of the Interim Armored Vehicle (Stryker). The charge to this panel was to explore three issues concerning the IOT plans for the Stryker/SBCT. First, the panel was asked to examine the measures selected to assess the performance and effectiveness of the Stryker/SBCT in comparison both to requirements and to the baseline system. Second, the panel was asked to review the test design for the Stryker/SBCT initial operational test to see whether it is consistent with best practices. Third, the panel was asked to identify the advantages and disadvantages of techniques for combining operational test data with data from other sources and types of use. In a previous report (appended to the current report) the panel presented findings, conclusions, and recommendations pertaining to the first two issues: measures of performance and effectiveness, and test design. In the current report, the panel discusses techniques for combining information.

Improved Operational Testing and Evaluation

Improved Operational Testing and Evaluation PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2003-07-11

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 0309089360

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) is responsible for the operational testing and evaluation of Army systems in development. ATEC requested that the National Research Council form the Panel on Operational Test Design and Evaluation of the Interim Armored Vehicle (Stryker) to explore three issues concerning the initial operation test plans for the Stryker/Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). First, the panel was asked to examine the measures selected to assess the performance and effectiveness of the Stryker/IBCT in comparison both to requirements and to the baseline system. Second, the panel was asked to review the test design for the Stryker/IBCT initial operational test to see whether it is consistent with best practices. Third, the panel was asked to identify the advantages and disadvantages of techniques for combining operational test data with data from other sources and types of use. In this report the panel presents findings, conclusions, and recommendations pertaining to the first two issues: measures of performance and effectiveness, and test design. The panel intends to prepare a second report that discusses techniques for combining information.

Industrial Methods for the Effective Development and Testing of Defense Systems

Industrial Methods for the Effective Development and Testing of Defense Systems PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2012-02-27

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 0309222702

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

During the past decade and a half, the National Research Council, through its Committee on National Statistics, has carried out a number of studies on the application of statistical methods to improve the testing and development of defense systems. These studies were intended to provide advice to the Department of Defense (DOD), which sponsored these studies. The previous studies have been concerned with the role of statistical methods in testing and evaluation, reliability practices, software methods, combining information, and evolutionary acquisition. Industrial Methods for the Effective Testing and Development of Defense Systems is the latest in a series of studies, and unlike earlier studies, this report identifies current engineering practices that have proved successful in industrial applications for system development and testing. This report explores how developmental and operational testing, modeling and simulation, and related techniques can improve the development and performance of defense systems, particularly techniques that have been shown to be effective in industrial applications and are likely to be useful in defense system development. In addition to the broad issues, the report identifies three specific topics for its focus: finding failure modes earlier, technology maturity, and use of all relevant information for operational assessments.

Reliability Growth

Reliability Growth PDF

Author: Panel on Reliability Growth Methods for Defense Systems

Publisher: National Academy Press

Published: 2015-03-01

Total Pages: 235

ISBN-13: 9780309314749

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

A high percentage of defense systems fail to meet their reliability requirements. This is a serious problem for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), as well as the nation. Those systems are not only less likely to successfully carry out their intended missions, but they also could endanger the lives of the operators. Furthermore, reliability failures discovered after deployment can result in costly and strategic delays and the need for expensive redesign, which often limits the tactical situations in which the system can be used. Finally, systems that fail to meet their reliability requirements are much more likely to need additional scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and to need more spare parts and possibly replacement systems, all of which can substantially increase the life-cycle costs of a system. Beginning in 2008, DOD undertook a concerted effort to raise the priority of reliability through greater use of design for reliability techniques, reliability growth testing, and formal reliability growth modeling, by both the contractors and DOD units. To this end, handbooks, guidances, and formal memoranda were revised or newly issued to reduce the frequency of reliability deficiencies for defense systems in operational testing and the effects of those deficiencies. "Reliability Growth" evaluates these recent changes and, more generally, assesses how current DOD principles and practices could be modified to increase the likelihood that defense systems will satisfy their reliability requirements. This report examines changes to the reliability requirements for proposed systems; defines modern design and testing for reliability; discusses the contractor's role in reliability testing; and summarizes the current state of formal reliability growth modeling. The recommendations of "Reliability Growth" will improve the reliability of defense systems and protect the health of the valuable personnel who operate them.

Network Centric Operations (NCO) Case Study: Stryker Brigade Combat Team

Network Centric Operations (NCO) Case Study: Stryker Brigade Combat Team PDF

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The purpose of this case study report is to describe the evolution of network enabled capabilities in the context of U.S. Army transformation. The focus is on the background and evolution of the Stryker Brigade capabilities. The study examines innovations that have evolved from the mid 1990s up through current processes. The evidence is drawn primarily from a technical report prepared by the RAND Corporation and open source material. This case study begins with a discussion of the creation and evolution of STRIKER FORCE. This is followed by a review of the co-evolving capabilities developed by the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). This includes information regarding the Stryker vehicle, communications, command and control systems, the SBCT's organic organizational design, and leadership training. The study then provides a brief description of several exercises the SBCT participated in, including a detailed account of a highly successful training exercise that occurred at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, LA.