the third quarter of fiscal year 2005, and a multi-service operational test and evaluation beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006.

These test events provide a basis for decision reviews, which consist of an overarching integrating product team in the second quarter of fiscal year 2005, a Milestone C decision in the second quarter of fiscal year 2006, and a full-rate production decision in the second quarter of fiscal year 2007. The first unit equipped is the second quarter of fiscal year 2007.

Since contract award approximately nine months ago, the program has successfully completed an integrated baseline review, a system design review, and is closing out remaining actions associated with the hardware preliminary design reviews. Also upcoming are a software preliminary design review and a critical design review. The contractor has indicated that they would like an additional 90 days to get to the early operational assessment. After the critical design review, a decision will be made on any movement of the schedule, when sufficient data will be available. Overall, the Army expects to meet the established development and fielding timeline established in the acquisition program baseline, given the currently funded levels. Question. The JTRS program is managed through a Joint Program Office for which the Army serves as the lead. Please explain how management responsibilities and funding are divided between the various services.

Answer. The JTRS Waveform Program is responsible for funding the evolution of the software communications architecture, development of the cryptographic algorithms, and the waveform software application used by the Service JTRS radios. The JTRS Waveform Program provides the capstone acquisition strategy, security verification, and JTRS certification to ensure the cost-effective procurement of interoperable radios for all the Services. Each grouping of radio procurements is defined as a Cluster program. Each Cluster program is responsible for developing, testing, and producing their Cluster radio sets. Each Service funds their procurement of radios through the Cluster program that meets their communications requirement. Question. In your view, are your peers in the other Services providing equal emphasis on this program to ensure it will meet established development milestones? Answer. Yes, the all Services are providing equal emphasis on JTRS. Each Service will meet their communications requirement through a grouping of radio procurements or Clusters. Currently, Clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been identified, and the Clusters are successfully executing to established development milestones. Question. Please explain the significance of the JTRS program to Army communications overall and to fielding the Future Combat System (FCS) in particular.

Answer. The Army Transformation Campaign Plan envisions a seamless communications architecture that enables interoperability across Services, platforms, and echelons of command. While numerous radio sets currently support the Army, JTRS provides a family of interoperable radio sets, capable of loading multiple waveforms, to support Joint operations. JTRS enables the Army to support Joint operations by providing the capability to transmit, receive, bridge, and gateway between similar and diverse waveforms and network protocols used within the radio frequency spectrum and across Service boundaries.

The FCS network communications architecture provides network-centric communications connectivity to the unit of action. The JTRS is a critical enabler of the FCS command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Every entity within FCS utilizes a software programmable radio and an associated networking waveform capable of interoperating within the FCS heterogeneous network. Large ground vehicles will incorporate JTRS Cluster 1 and utilize the wideband networking waveform for FCS network interconnectivity. Small air/ground sensors and soldiers utilize the JTRS small form factor radio along with the embedded networking waveform for FCS network interconnectivity. Question. What radios will JTRS eventually replace?

Answer. JTRS will combine the functionality of numerous single function radios among the services into a single, Joint-interoperable family of radios. JTRS will operate with many legacy waveforms currently used by military and civilian agencies and incorporate new waveforms as they are developed. The components of the JTRS family of radio sets will be scaleable in terms of form, fit, and cost to meet specific user operational needs.

Question. What is included in the fiscal year 2004 budget request for this program? For the out years?

Answer. The fiscal year 2004 budget request for the JTRS Joint Program Office is $134.7 million. This will fund continued maintenance, evolution, and configuration control of the software communications architecture; continued funding of JTRS waveform contracts; continued development of software cryptographic algorithms and other security-related activity; continued technology insertion activities; continued test and certification activities to insure interoperability of all JTRS systems;

management and transition of the Joint Task Force Warfighter New Equipment Training (WARNET) program; and technical and non-technical program support. Out year funding is similarly structured.

The JTRS Cluster 1 program is funded in accordance with Department of Defense acquisition guidance. This guidance directs that DoD shall strive to provide realistic cost estimates. As such, the Defense Acquisition Board decision recognized the aggressive JTRS Cluster 1 schedule and associated cost risk and directed the program to be funded to reflect Joint Cost Position and Cost Analysis Improvement Group recommendations. Cluster 1 funding in fiscal year 2005 and out includes requirements for the continuation of contractual development efforts, testing, and management and program office support and technical support requirements.

Question. What progress is planned with the fiscal year 2004 funding? Answer. The 21 JTRS waveforms included in the Cluster 1 contract will be ready for early operational assessment in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2004 with limited functionality. The Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System, Enhance System Improvement Program waveform development will be completed, as will the development of a number of other waveforms. Potentially, development of other JTRS operational requirements document threshold waveforms will be started, depending on funding availability. Additionally, the first cryptographic algorithms will be delivered. Software communications architecture evolution and configuration control will continue, significant test and certification activity will occur, and technology insertion opportunities will be identified and pursued.

The Joint Staff coordination process is nearing completion for the Joint Task Force WARNET program. This process will further define requirements for transitioning the program, with results being implemented by, the Joint Program Office in fiscal year 2004. In fiscal year 2004, the JTRS Cluster program will continue design, development, and support of the ground and airborne sets and design of ground vehicular installation kits for platforms required for testing. An early operational test is planned for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2004, with, rampup for conduct and coordination of the test beginning in fiscal year 2003. The prime contractor and major subcontractors are expected to complete the build of pre-engineering development models, and the contractor expects to begin testing JTRS Cluster 1 prototypes in April 2004. The contractor will also start to ramp-up for the fabrication and build of the engineering development models.

TRAINING AMMUNITION

Question. Describe the process used to develop budget estimates for training ammunition.

Answer. Ammunition requirements for weapons training are based on proponentdeveloped Department of the Army (DA)-approved training strategies. Once a strategy is approved it is added into DA Pamphlet 350-38 and resourcing for it incorporated into the Program Objective Memorandum (POM). To get the POM requirement, the Army Training Support Center maintains a database containing all of the Army's weapons training strategies and ammunition requirements for each strategy, by ammunition type and year: Currently, the Army's major commands input their weapons densities and unit category into the database. The merger of these sources of data-strategy requirements, weapons densities, and unit category-provides the annual Army training ammunition requirements.

The Army is currently transitioning to a new database that will accommodate the changed format of the revised fiscal year 2005 Army weapons training strategy. The revised strategy eliminated category clarifications and is instead organized by a more detailed unit type. The new data base still requires the Army to input strategy requirements, but "feeds" from other Army data bases will provide weapons densities by unit identification code, modified table of organization and equipment, and installation. After the Army major commands verify this data, a training ammunition requirements report is generated and serves as the basis for DA-approved training ammunition requirements. Additionally, several Army major commands submit non-approved training requirements for consideration. Training related to contingency operations is an example of these non-approved requirements.

Once the baseline Army training ammunition requirements are developed, a number of DA and Army Materiel Command staff agencies meet to discuss issues such as execution rates, supply availability, and anticipated production for each type of ammunition. Decisions about what to program and in what quantities emerge from these meetings.

Question. The Committee understands that the fiscal year 2004 budget request provides ammunition sufficient to meet a "C-2” level of training readiness. Why?

Answer. Army training ammunition is funded at the C-2 level in FY04. The Army desires to fund training ammunition at the C-1 level, but the reality is that training ammunition competes for funding with other Army priorities. While there is moderate risk in funding training ammunition at the C-2 level, the FY04 budget reflects the best balance between available funds and Army priorities.

Question. Given deployments for the global war on terrorism and potentially in Iraq, is the Army executing its live-fire training program at a “C-2” level or higher? Please explain.

Answer. For fiscal year 2004, the Army is funded at the C-2 level for training ammunition. At present, however, the Army is executing its live-fire training program at the C-1 level, and for some types of munitions, above the C-1 level. First, as Reserve Component (RC) units prepare to deploy, whether for U.S. or overseas missions, they are required to train to Active Component standards. For most, this entails individual weapons qualification. However, some RC units must also perform collective training as well as individual qualification. Second, prior to the start of any operations in Iraq; units in the area of operations conduct a more intense level of training than that prescribed by the Army's peacetime weapons training strategy. Not only do they train to more rigorous levels, but they also conduct familiarization training with a few items not normally trained in peacetime. The intent behind such training is to ensure soldiers understand how the munitions will perform before they actually use them for the first time in combat. Third, the number of contingency operations involving Army soldiers has grown in recent years. In addition to supporting training for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the United States, we also are supporting training for soldiers for operations in Guantanamo Bay, Kosovo, and Bosnia. Training ammunition support for these unprogrammed requirements currently is being sourced from other, lower-priority units' training ammunition, or from other available stocks.

Question. What opportunities are provided for live-fire training with modernized or preferred munitions in this budget request?

Answer. In most cases, the modernized or preferred round cannot be fired on existing ranges because of environmental or safety danger zone restrictions.

Additionally, preferred and modernized rounds tend to be expensive. Nonetheless, the Army has programmed a variety of training-unique variants of these rounds and has incorporated them into its current weapons training strategies. Examples include the 120mm tank training round, 25mm training round, 30mm training round, and the 120mm mortar full-range training round.

Question. The Committee understands that the Army's policy for live-fire training with modernized or preferred munitions such as shoulder-launched missiles is one missile per nine-man squad per year. All other training is conducted with "sub-caliber" devices. Why does the Army limit training on such systems? Has such training expanded in the wake of recent U.S. deployments?

Answer. The Army limits live-fire training with modernized or preferred munitions for a number of reasons, including safety, environmental constraints, and the high cost of many of the munitions involved. The use of training aids, devices, simulators, and simulations helps hold down the cost of live-fire training while still training soldiers to standard. However, in addition to training to more rigorous levels during training in Afghanistan and Kuwait, units also trained with a few items for which Army training strategies have no live-fire requirement. Javelin missiles were an example of such an item. The intent behind training with these and other items not normally used in live-fire training was to ensure soldiers understood how the munitions would perform before they actually used them for the first time in combat.

WAR RESERVE AMMUNITION

Question. The Army has a backlog of approximately $1 billion in war reserves of ammunition. The fiscal year 2004 budget request includes $1.3 billion for procurement of ammunition of which $139 million is for war reserve stocks. The overall funding level for ammunition in the fiscal year 2004 request is $56.9 million greater than 2003.

Please describe the state of the war reserve of ammunition. What are the total stockage requirements by major types of ammunitions (small arms, tank ammo, mortars, etc.)? What are the present fill levels for these categories?

Answer. Significant shortages of key preferred munitions exist throughout the Army inventory. Underfunded programs, production stoppages, and other obstacles continue to exacerbate already short munitions lines. Additionally, the global war on terrorism, unresourced mobilization, and surge training have further reduced

stocks maintained in stateside depots which are used to source ammunition basic loads and sustainment stocks.

The following table lists the total requirements and percentage fill for conventional ammunition war reserve stockage requirements and percentage fill. The categories do not include missile items.

Question. How much of the $1.3 billion included for ammunition in the fiscal year 2004 budget request goes toward filling war reserve requirements?

Answer. The Army Procurement of Ammunition appropriation for fiscal year 2004 includes $129 million for ammunition which goes toward filling war reserve requirements.

Question. Have war reserve requirements changed as a result of the global war on terrorism and other potential deployments?

Answer. War reserve requirements have not been affected. Munitions required to fight terrorism and arm units for potential deployments are included in the Army's requirements to defend the homeland, fight two overlapping wars, and conduct small-scale contingencies.

Question. Do you anticipate that a supplemental funding request for fiscal year 2003 will include a component for ammunition war reserves? If so what is the Army's estimate?

Answer. Yes, the Army's request will include a component for ammunition war reserves. The Army's estimated cost to replenish war reserve ammunition is currently being refined based upon revised planning assumptions. Once completed, the Army's requirement will be contained within the overall Department of Defense supplemental request.

LAND WARRIOR PROGRAM

Question. $94.8 million is included in Other Procurement, Army in fiscal year 2004 to provide for the initial procurement of the Land Warrior system. Land Warrior provides dismounted forces with common digital situational data and links to other weapons such as tanks and artillery. The Army plans to procure an additional 4,800 sets through a low-rate initial production contract in fiscal years 2005-2006. The fiscal year 2004 budget request includes $94.8 million for procurement of about 2,000 Land Warrior sets. What is the basis for the initial procurement quantity of these items?

Answer. Land Warrior initial capability, or Block I operational requirement document (ORD) compliant, systems were slated for production in fiscal year 2004. The 1,875 Land Warrior initial capability systems were intended only for the 75th Ranger Regiment. The remaining 100 systems were to be used by the Army Training and Doctrine Command schools. Although full functionality of the Land Warrior initial capability system was achieved during developmental testing, overall results and low demonstrated reliability in an early functional assessment indicated that this system would not likely be reliable enough to enter operational testing as originally planned. As a result, the program is now concentrating on the Land Warrior-Stryker Interoperable/Block II system and will not produce any units in fiscal year 2004. The Army is working to re-designate the fiscal year 2004 Land Warrior procurement dollars to support additional research, development, testing, and evaluation and procurement of items under the Rapid Fielding Initiative.

Question. What capability will the initial Land Warrior sets provide?

Answer. The Land Warrior initial capability system was originally designed to meet the Block I ORD requirements such as increased command and control through situational awareness and understanding, enhanced soldier survivability with improved body armor, increased mobility with use of global positioning system, and other enhancements in soldier equipment. Key requirements for the Block I system were to provide increased functionality without increasing the soldier's current load and provide a 12-hour power requirement to power the Land Warrior system in any operational environment. Program focus has shifted to design, development, and fielding of the Land Warrior Stryker-Interoperable system. Land Warrior Stryker-Interoperable is scheduled for full production in fiscal year 2006 with the first unit equipped in fiscal year 2006. The Land Warrior Stryker-Interoperable system will meet all Block I and II ORD requirements.

Question. What is the fielding plan for Land Warrior?

Answer. The Land Warrior Stryker-Interoperable system will be fielded to the 75th Ranger Regiment and six Stryker Brigade Combat Teams starting in fiscal year 2006 and ending in fiscal year 2008. The Army then plans to begin fielding an upgraded version of Land Warrior to the Special Forces Groups and the Objective Force units of action beginning in fiscal year 2009.

Question. Weight has always been a technical problem for the Land Warrior system. Initial versions of the hardware weighed as much as 92 pounds. Describe the units that the Army proposes to buy in fiscal year 2004 and how the Army has addressed weight issues for this system.

Answer. The Land Warrior ORD reflects a 40-pound objective and 50-pound threshold weight requirement for the advanced capability/Block III system. The Land Warrior program is chartered with integrating currently fielded and proposed government-furnished and contractor-designed equipment into a system that provides overmatch capability to the infantryman and those who fight with infantrymen. The Army looks at reducing the soldier's load by pursuing technologies that can produce high-payoff weight savings, advanced battery technologies, the XM8 advanced combat rifle, and science and technology programs such as the Objective Force Warrior advanced technology demonstration and lightweight Squad Automatic Weapon.

Question. The Army budget request indicates that the Land Warrior sets planned for procurement in 2004 represent a mix of commercial and military specific items. Please indicate which components are commercial and which are military specific. Answer. The Land Warrior program intends to take advantage of state-of-the-art commercially developed items such as local area network technology and antennae, audio headset, and microphone that meet specific Land Warrior requirements. Other commercial products that meet or exceed Land Warrior objective requirements will be integrated as pre-planned product improvements. These components will be integrated into military items such as the Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, Advanced Combat Helmet, Integrated Body Armor, and uniform enhancements to provide the soldier with an optimum fighting system tailored to his specific mission requirements.

Question. Has the mix of commercial and military specific components changed over the course of the Land Warrior system's development?

Answer. Yes. As commercially developed technologies mature, we continue to add improvements to the Land Warrior system design to improve functionality and reduce weight. We will continue to explore areas in order to meet the weight and power objectives of the ORD in a spiral development of the Objective Force Warrior to continue to provide emerging technologies, particularly in the area of power management. As we integrate commercial and military specific components, we have two main concerns relating to security issues and environmental concerns. Security concerns include soldiers operating in various networks while being protected from radio frequency jamming or interception from the enemy. Commercially developed hardware must also be ruggedized to be able to withstand the rigor of a battlefield environment and still be able to operate in austere environments without missionaffecting failures.

Question. Please describe the relationship between Land Warrior and the Objective Force Warrior system that is presently in research and development.

Answer. Objective Force Warrior is a science and technology advanced technology demonstration program that will demonstrate the technologies and prototype design of an integrated soldier system of systems at Technology Readiness Level 6 providing a revolutionary increase in the operational effectiveness of soldiers and small teams, with a 50-pound fighting load and 24-hour sustained operations without resupply. The demonstration will include squad level (with platoon headquarters and lateral squad leaders) iterative limited objective experiments and capstone demonstration with 20 to 25 prototype systems during fiscal year 2006. The Objective