Cooperative research agreement focuses on reducing risk for Army modernization

By Edric Thompson, CERDEC Public AffairsMarch 11, 2010

CRADA Signing
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. -- The Army has partnered with a private corporation to share information and reduce risks. The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's communications and electronics research center signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with DRS Tactical Systems to share research supporting risk reduction for Army modernization.

The legal agreement, signed on March 10 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, allows the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center and DRS Tactical Systems to share information while protecting their intellectual property and trade secrets.

The work resulting from the CRADA will contribute to Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below knowledge and information management, biometric capabilities, and condition-based vehicle maintenance.

The agreement "makes sense" because CERDEC C2D and DRS Tactical Systems have common research interests, said Michael Anthony, chief of the CERDEC C2D Advanced Applications Branch.

"CERDEC does a lot of research and development for the software that Soldiers use or will use. DRS Tactical Systems produces hardware for vehicle-based command and control systems," Anthony said. "The roles are symmetrical; DRS Tactical Systems will provide hardware to us where appropriate, and we will share software and needs information with them."

Other areas of research under the CRADA include applying BCT Modernization Software to JV5 hardware platforms, integrating ABCS with FBCB2 platforms, platform-related information assurance, modular platform systems and gateway systems.

"Through shared research and objectives, we can develop a common approach that will allow us to better identify and mitigate risks while delivering additional capabilities at a lower cost," Anthony said.

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