Accelerated business process improvements

Accelerated Business Process Improvement is the last phase in the Naval Tactical Command Support System program. Execution of this program is evolutionary, starting with the legacy systems on proprietary hardware and software. The legacy systems are replaced with ‘state of the

shelf COTS IT hardware and software operating systems that comply with the COE standards. The legacy software is ‘ported’ to a form that will run in the new environment, or emulators are used. No change in functionality occurs at this point, however, system speed is greatly increased and hardware maintenance costs are greatly reduced. In the next phase, the software is ‘optimised’. Again, no change in functionality occurs; however, operator productivity is increased and software maintenance costs are greatly reduced. At this point, the foundation has been laid for changes in functionality via Business Process Improvements.

This approach was first used with the Automated Maintenance Environment effort, which is an improvement to the business processes supported by the Optimised Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management System. It is a reengineering of the maintenance process used to support F/A-18 aircraft with future applicability throughout the Fleet. There were prototypes in the Fleet, which have been used to measure benefits and estimate the future value of the improved business process. The Naval Tactical Command Support System Program Office has performed an analysis of the prototype and delivered a Business Process Improvement Management Plan that is estimated to result in cost avoidance totalling $345M over the system life cycle.

10.11 Defense message system (DMS)

10.11.1 General Description

The Defense Message System (DMS) will be the primary means of electronic messaging within the US DoD in the 21st century. It comprises the hardware, software, procedures, standards, facilities and personnel used to exchange messages electronically within DoD and among other authorised users. It provides an integrated, global information COE for the US DoD for peacetime operations, and both tactical and mobile crisis situations. The DMS program must respond to the dramatic changes in technology and the evolving needs of its users. Flexible system architectures are key to implementing evolutionary systems. They allow a blend of COTS IT and developed capabilities to meet DoD needs, and through this leveraging of the commercial technology and industrial base, provide a range of economical and effective services.

By accepting a flexible architecture, with implementation tailored to provide the different levels of service required by specific user communities, DMS can receive the advantages of commercial technology development surrounding the Internet and move closer to COTS technology without impacting the capability required to support C^ and allied messaging. The DMS will evolve into a flexible, COTS-based service that provides a full range of message security/assurance levels and grades of service to the C“l user.

To reduce life cycle costs, DMS hardware will use standardised components where possible, employ modular design, use COTS/NDI products, and use ‘design to discard’ where repair is not economically feasible. The Management Workstation is the primary tool for network management at all management levels and includes a suite of COTS products.

In considering the type of service required, DMS users, are considered to fail into two basic classes, both of which can be met by COTS products:

• Critical C^ users (high-grade messaging with high security assurance). • General users with less stringent performance requirements.

The DMS is, as far as possible, a COTS/NDI item using COTS/NDI acquisition. No ILS studies have been required of the vendor. There are no requirements for parts standardisation or commonality with items provided through the defense supply system, since there is complete dependence on contractor logistics and maintenance support. There is, however, a requirement for commonality of contractor-supplied components. The DMS will also use hardware that is already installed where compatibility can be maintained.

10.11.2 The Convergence of DMS and Commercial Communications

The DMS uses COTS products to the maximum extent possible to exploit commercial trends. The emergence of the World Wide Web sparked a rush by commercial companies to provide Internet based products. The extension of Internet messaging capabilities to provide functional equivalents of many X.400 services is enabling many users to choose Internet mail as their ‘business grade’ messaging system. DoD needs, especially for C^ users, may still exceed COTS IT capabilities, but over time that gap grows smaller.

While COTS products will serve many DoD requirements, it cannot depend on commercial evolution to provide essential capabilities for C^ grade messaging. Some features are simply of insufficient interest to the market to warrant investment by commercial IT suppliers. Other capabilities may be addressed eventually, but DoD users may not be able to wait. Key activities for DoD to speed the convergence process are to:

1. Review DMS functionality and requirements to determine where Internet technology might come closest to meeting DMS needs.

2. Review requirements process to determine what is driving customisation, and revise original requirements wherever possible to meet COTS.

3. Create a flexible architecture that can accommodate a range of protocols and services and selected vendor native protocols.

4. Develop a tiered architecture of security requirements. Especially where unclassified data are concerned, this should map to electronic commerce and commercial ciyptography services. 5. Revise the overall product acceptance methodology to foster more rapid prototyping,

procurement, and deployment of new technologies.

6. Participate in industry forums to influence standards, communicate DoD requirements and experiences to the marketplace, and form alliances with the commercial sector.

The key element to achieving commercial convergence and rapid integration of new technologies is a flexible architecture that can adapt to changes in user requirements and technologies. Technologies may be updated and introduced as needed, without disrupting

services. The DMS goal is to converge commercial business grade and high-grade/high assurance messaging. Flexible architecture supports this by:

• Providing a path for the introduction of multiple Internet and commercial products. • Developing operational experience with large-scale deployments of COTS IT products. • Deployment of local/backbone infrastructure for both high grade and COTS messaging.

To take advantage of the rapid pace of technological advancement for the DoD, DMS must evolve along with COTS IT products, while meeting the diverse requirement and cost efficiencies that community. It supports the use of products from multiple suppliers, and allows for the rapid introduction of new technologies and products.

10.12 Navy ILS implementation plan for TC AIMS II

TC-AIMSII will be integrated into all facets of transportation operations within the Navy and will provide a suite of systems capable of supporting day-to-day sustainment, and contingency transportation planning and execution. It will provide Navy users with the capability to use a joint system to effect transportation planning and execution during peace and war.

Navy fielding concept provides for TC-AIMS II software to be submitted (with easy loading instructions) for loading on stand-alone workstations computers, LANs, deployable notebooks, and robust servers. The software will be designed to provide each user with the ability to create, print, and exchange documentation on workstations and/or deployable notebooks. Robust servers will be used for data storage and replication.

COTS/NDI hardware and associated software will be used. Unit level applications will reside on workstations and deployable notebook computers. Units will be connected to one robust server and one backup server for data replication and storage.

10.13 Submarine countermeasures

The LEAD defensive subsystem integrates existing submarine countermeasures, the US-ADC MK2 and UK-2066 with proven chaff and infrared launching systems. The LEAD design is totally based on existing systems and is truly an NDI item. The approach taken with LEAD makes it instantly compatible and launchable from every surface ship in the U.S. Navy and virtually all allied navies.

10.14 US Marine Corps policy on IT procurement ” ***

The Marine Corps has delegated procurement authority to the commanding general, commanding officer and headquarters Marine Corps flag/SES levels for the following it programs:

1. IT acquisitions with total program costs less than or equal to $10,000,000.00 where: a) There is no software development.

b) All acquired IT assets comply with the US Marine Corps minimum desktop computer configuration and US Marine Corps COTS and GOTS software standards.

2. IT software development programs with total program costs less than or equal to $250,000.00.

10.15 Inform ation w arfare

The US governm ent reported that during 1995, there were 250,000 attem pts to penetrate US military computers. It estimated that 65% o f attacks were successful but that only 1 in 150 such attacks is reported. It also is extremely concerned about the success o f its 1995 information war games in causing serious problem s to transportation, banking and telephone systems, while a virus was used to paralyse weapon systems. It is taking action to assess vulnerabilities.

10.16 Legacy systems replacement

The US Naval Undersea Warfare Division has plotted the timescale for replacem ent o f legacy systems by COTS-based ones over a tw enty-two year period ending in 2017. Figure 27 shows just how long it will take for their systems fleet population to get CO TS IT into service. Such a profile is typical o f that likely to be found for the replacem ent o f other legacy systems.

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Legacy Baseline COTS Baseline

Figure 27. US Naval Undersea Warfare Division legacy & COTS systems fleet population. 10.17 Conclusions

It is clear that the US Navy has enthusiastically embraced the use o f CO TS IT and is already seeing a significant reduction in the initial acquisition cost o f many program s. It is enthusiastic about the benefits o f COTS IT and expects to see a significant reduction in through life costs as well. It does have the advantage o f a wide range o f CO TS IT suppliers based in the US, where it can put on pressure, not only from a nationalistic point o f view, but also as a result o f the size o f its budget. It has also set up a CO TS steering board to help the N avy obtain the greatest advantage from its use o f COTS IT.