Boeing

The Army Lead System Integrator (LSI) team of Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) announced today the selection of 15 new partners to join the U.S. Army Future Combat Systems (FCS) program.

The 15 new partners will lead teams of approximately 70 companies formed to play key system integration roles on the nearly $15-billion FCS development effort.

Following a rigorous review process and working in cooperation with the Army, the Boeing-SAIC Lead Systems Integrator team tapped a wide range of companies and organizations to provide 14 major procurements for this vital transformation program. The LSI team will now begin negotiations to formalize contracts with the newly named FCS partners. Selection of additional partners for the remaining work packages will be announced later this summer following completion of the evaluation process.

"As the lead system integrator on a program of the magnitude and importance of Future Combat Systems, it is critical for us to identify and team with the top domain experts," said Dennis Muilenburg, vice president and FCS program manager for Boeing. "Assembling the best of industry is at the heart of the LSI concept. We are focused on providing the best solutions to help the Army address the challenges it will face for decades to come."

FCS is a networked "system of systems", using advanced communications and technologies to link soldiers with both manned and unmanned ground and air platforms and sensors. FCS, made up of 18 individual systems and the soldiers who control them, is the basis for the Department of Defense's visionary plan to transform the Army into a more highly agile force with unprecedented capability that can go anywhere with enough power to overcome any adversary.

From the U.S. Army's perspective, "The FCS LSI is putting together a great team that brings diversity, talent and experience," said Major General Joseph Yakovac, Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems.

"A key strength of the Lead Systems Integrator approach is that it gives the customer a new way to assemble its team," said John Gully, deputy FCS program manager, SAIC. "We competitively selected industry-leading partners to develop systems based on a system of systems architecture, which we derived from the Army's Requirements Document."

In May of this year, the Defense Department authorized moving the program into the $14.9 billion System Development and Demonstration phase. During this phase, the Boeing-SAIC led team is working in tandem with the Army and the other services on the design and development of FCS, leading to Initial Production and Initial Operational Capability in the latter part of this decade.

Significant job opportunities and growth on FCS are expected, especially in systems engineering, software, electrical, and mechanical/structural engineering for Boeing and industry partners throughout the country.

Note to editors: Click here to see a full listing of the companies and teams.