Successive JCIDS Document Development

Precision Approach and Landing Capability (PALC)

Initial Capabilities Document (ICD)

Transitioning to Business Case Analysis (BCA)

Supporting the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS)

Capability Development Document(s) (CDD)

Customers: Air Force Flight Standards Agency, Tinker AFB, OK, and NAVAIR PMA-213, Patuxent River NAS, MD.

Challenge: The aviation branches of the joint Services were concerned about the efficacy of legacy land-based and sea-based precision approach and landing capability systems beyond 2014. Studies suggested that forecast approach and landing system retirement sand the introduction of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter into the inventory will create capability gaps on land and at sea for aircraft requiring terminal area precision approach and landing guidance.

Approach: After identifying the conditions, standards and tasks associated with land-based and sea-based aviation, and taking into account certain unique operating environment concerns associated with special operations aviation, WBB facilitated a HQ USAF-sponsored High Performance Team (HPT) session that identified and prioritized ideas for materiel approaches using selective criteria. In concert with numerous joint integrated product teams, WBB collaborated in iterative refinements which ultimately yielded an overarching PALC ICD applicable across all four Services and Special Operations Force.  Following Air Force and Navy validation and approval, the Air Force led development of a JPALS CDD reflecting materiel solutions for sea-based and land-based precision approach capabilities with different key performance parameters and need dates.  The Joint Capabilities Board (JCB) directed that this unified CDD be separated into two increments of capability, resulting in two different JPALS CDDs for Increment 1 (sea-based) and Increment 2 (land-based).  OSD leadership requested a Business Case Analysis (BCA) to confirm pursuit of the best technical approach at the least cost, and WBB facilitated an intense series of meetings to capture the analysis generated by a multi-Service team over a seven-month period.  The final BCA won OSD leadership endorsement and was a major contributor to the successful Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) presentation for awarding Milestone B status for the sea-based JPALS Increment 1 CDD. 

Value: The PALC ICD entered formal Air Force and Joint service staffing as an Acquisition Category I / Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) document. When the Joint Capabilities Board received the briefing, they were impressed with the analysis and recommendations, and forwarded the program documentation to the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) via a "paper JROC" decision. Subsequently, the MDA authorized the program to proceed as recommended. WBB's insights into the challenging ICD document development and staffing process, along with our attention to detail in documenting all components of the analysis, proved instrumental in securing a "paper JROC" decision in minimum time.  When the Services were ready to proceed with a unified JPALS CDD, they recognized the inherent value in tapping the analysis used to develop the PALC ICD and the facilitated meeting framework afforded by the HPT process.  WBB expertly guided JPALS stakeholders through the challenges of developing analysis needed to populate the CDD and, when the JCB directed development of two separate CDDs, WBB was able to quickly respond without appreciable delays in the document development timeline.  When OSD leadership surprised the Services with direction to conduct a BCA, WBB offered a framework and a process, and delivered a successful BCA on time and under cost.  Finally, when Service principals needed to prepare the mandatory presentations for Service and Joint requirements and acquisition boards, WBB’s experience in supporting other programs through these wickets provided valuable insights into shaping the content and tenor of these briefings.  In early 2010, the Services have approved programs for providing precision approach capability to their respective aviation platforms, and are poised to integrate into next generation air traffic control innovations looming on the horizon.