Kendall Cites Flawed Army Future Combat Systems as Costly Lesson

The U.S. Army’s canceled Future Combat Systems program was “irrevocably damaged” by “poor systems engineering,” the Defense Department’s acting top weapons buyer said.

Acting Undersecretary for Acquisition Frank Kendall formerly worked for contractor Science Applications International Corp. supporting the Army program, where he saw “firsthand how an unrealistic program schedule can drive poor systems engineering.” Boeing Co. was the other major contractor for the planned fleet of manned and unmanned Army vehicles joined by a wireless network.