Future Combat Systems

Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009.

[1] Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network.

The FBCB2 system in particular and the BFT system in general have won numerous awards and accolades, including: recognition in 2001 as one of the five best-managed software programs in the entire U.S. Government,[4] the 2003 Institute for Defense and Government Advancement's award for most innovative U.S. Government program,[5] the 2003 Federal Computer Week Monticello Award (given in recognition of an information system that has a direct, meaningful impact on human lives), and the Battlespace Information 2005 "Best Program in Support of Coalition Operations".

Teams led by General Dynamics Land Systems, Carnegie Mellon University, and Omnitech Robotics were awarded nearly $1 million each to develop UGCVs prototypes.

The Boeing Company and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) worked together as the lead systems integrators, coordinating more than 550 contractors and subcontractors in 41 states.

Decreases in the Army’s funding and the high cost of developing the intelligent munition system caused the DoD to delete the project from the FCS contract, and the XM1100 Scorpion was established as a stand-alone program in January 2007.

[16] In June 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized the "close working relationship" between the Army and the lead system integrators.

The GAO recommended the Office of the Secretary of Defense reassert its oversight authority and prepare an alternative should FCS be canceled.

[17] The Department of Defense agreed with the latter suggestion, to which the Army responded by calling the GAO report "rooted in the past, not the present".