Abstract
The report presents the results of
two studies: The first compares the capabilities and development approaches used in the Joint Tactical Radio System wideband networking waveform (WNW) and the commercial long-term evolution (LTE) waveform, and the
second analyzes military acquisition programs that have repeatedly
exceeded certain cost thresholds. The first study compares differences
in system designs, technical requirements, intellectual property
protection schemes, and cost in the development of WNW. It also examined
how technical risks and challenging requirements contributed to
schedule and cost increases. The second study attempts to identify
unique characteristics of programs that overrun their budgets more than
once.
Key Findings
Several Issues Make the Comparison Between JTRS and LTE Less Than Favorable for JTRS
- There was not enough money spent on research, development, test, and engineering for JTRS.
- The more evolutionary development approach employed by LTE program personnel enabled them to deal with system performance and technology risk issues as they came up.
- The JTRS program structure separated hardware and software, which complicated coordination needs and delayed the discovery of problems in the JTRS program.
- The JTRS program's use of the intellectual property model may have prevented the incorporation of needed technologies into the program, which could have reduced technical risks and performance.
JTRS provides a textbook case of what not to do in a technology development program, proving that even a few great ideas can’t save a project that has been over-specified and under-tested, and that remains blinkered to what's going on in the world around it.
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