Soaring With AC-130J: A Decidedly Nontraditional Acquisition Strategy.

摘要

The Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center (SORDAC) created a small Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF) to lead the Dragon Spear Program, integrate program activities and report directly to the USSOCOM Acquisition Executive. The JATF was a small group of program management, financial and contracting specialists whose challenge was to execute innovative management strategies and meet the demanding requirements of a UDA. Less than 12 months after the program was initiated, the first modified MC-130W was demonstrating its new suite of weapons, following delivery to Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), to support aircrew training and deployment preparations. Seven months later, an interim capability was deployed to Iraq. And 2.5 years after initiation of the UDA, PSP Capability Release 3--the objective configuration-- was fielded on the MC-130W. On Nov. 18, 2011, crews from the 73rd SOS employed the new capability during operations in Afghanistan. The success of the Dragon Spear program depended on rapid but disciplined program execution. Certain strategies were essential to limit the program's cost and schedule and provided lessons learned for those crafting the AC-130J program strategy.