A next-generation electronic-warfare system facing a critical go-ahead decision has been singled out for criticism in a new audit report from the US Department of Defense Inspector General (IG).
The Northrop Grumman EA-6B Improved Capability (ICAP) III programme is nearing the end of a five-month operational test and evaluation (Opeval) period. Depending on the results, ICAP III could be eligible next month to receive the US Navy's approval to enter full-rate production.
Meanwhile, the IG audit released on 31 August challenges the basis for the navy's decision in June 2003 to clear the programme to start low-rate initial production (LRIP). According to the audit, critical information that may have persuaded navy acquisition staff to reject LRIP status was concealed by ICAP III programme managers.
The navy's top acquisition official, John Young, disputes the audit's conclusions, saying his office was aware of performance issues identified in an operational assessment (OA) conducted early last year, and that the programme office had a plan in place to correct each problem. Young is waiting for the results of the Opeval phase to confirm the programme's progress, perhaps bolstered by two software upgrades provided since the report.
This found "major deficiencies" with the ICAP III's ability to detect enemy radar emitters, a poor crew-vehicle interface and unstable mission planning and analysis. In one "extreme" case, a 1h test of the upgrade's detection system identified 1,012 threat emitters, of which all but 10 were false alarms.
"The aircrews testing the ICAP III expressed low confidence in the authenticity of the threat emitter symbols displayed during the test missions," the audit says. Northrop Grumman says the false alarms were traced to software glitches.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International