Sequestration and Continued Resolution to Slow Growth of Defense Battle Management Systems, Warns Frost & Sullivan

-- To stay competitive with rapidly advancing capabilities of adversaries, US defense strategies cannot ignore critical technologies

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Battle management systems (BMS) are critical distribution points of information that serve as the eyes and ears of U.S. military operators. As conflicts continue -- easing hostilities in the Middle East are offset by new ones arising in other geographic areas -- Department of Defense (DoD) technology developments and innovation in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and command and control (C2) are changing the way battle management decisions are communicated to units on the ground and on the move.

While BMS are critical tools for military planners and commanders in the field, uncertainty around how the government will operate now that the 2013 fiscal year is over, has many program managers pulling back on important BMS projects. Current BMS capabilities have performed successfully without any significant shortfalls. As defense budgets tighten, research and development (R&D) on BMS improvements cannot afford to remain stagnant; it must stay in pace with the dynamic commercial technologies used by potential adversaries to stifle US C2 capabilities.

Frost & Sullivan Aerospace and Defense (www.defense.frost.com) research on BMS finds the U.S. DoD 2014 budget request for BMS is estimated at $1.58 billion excluding classified system. A review of budget forecasts to 2018 reveals that BMS funding requests will shrink to an estimated $1.48 billion. The research is segmented by military departments and includes BMS type contracts awarded in 2012. A list of key BMS programs is also cited in the research under their perspective military department.

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"C2 is a key concept of BMS, which the adversary is quickly learning to capitalize on, as well as interfere with," said Aerospace and Defense Senior Industry Analyst John Hernandez. "BMS technologies can be as simple as a cell phone and as elaborate as a command center with multiple feeds through UAS, satellites or other communication modes. The ability to utilize and implement the most appropriate BMS for any situation is vital to US defense strategy."

Defense acquisition professionals are placing more emphasis on established equipment in order to lessen spending on R&D. Companies with BMS offerings that can be easily upgraded to integrate with commercial off-the-shelf technologies and capabilities will gain firm standing within this market space.

"Developments of UAS are enhancing communications within the battle management cycle, making it easier to capture information, as well as disseminate the captured information to decision makers," concluded Hernandez. "A new age of military operators is demanding current technology that arms warriors with the complete battle space picture from which to make informed decisions. BMS is the epicentre of collection and dissemination process providing operators better situational awareness."

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