Defense authorization bill clears Hill hurdles

• By Dawn S. Onley, Matt McLaughlin
• Nov 24, 2003

Congress this month sent President Bush a fiscal 2004 Defense authorization bill that sets instructions for several major military technology projects and emphasizes transforming the military.

Although Bush in September signed a Defense Department appropriations bill for 2004, the 1,200-page authorization bill includes lawmakers' recommendations for $401.3 billion in DOD funding.

For some IT efforts, the bill makes specific demands on DOD:

• Joint Tactical Radio System: DOD must establish a plan for the development of JTRS under a single program office and submit plans to Congress by Jan. 1. The plans must be implemented no later than Oct. 1.


• Future Combat Systems: Congress limited spending to $170 million for developing networked weapons and vehicles until lawmakers receive an independent review of FCS and a milestone review by the Defense Acquisition Board.


• Network-centric communications: DOD must develop a high-speed, high-bandwidth comm system for military operations. The department must identify areas for advanced wireless communications, develop a plan for improved spectrum use, and implement robust security and encryption.


• Blue Force Tracking: DOD and the Joint Forces Command must report on joint experiments to evaluate technologies to identify friendly and enemy troops on the battlefield.