INDUSTRY POSITION ON NATIONAL SMALL ARMS TECHNICAL CENTER

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INDUSTRY POSITION ON NATIONAL SMALL ARMS
TECHNICAL CENTER
Jean-Louis Vanderstraeten FN Manufacturing,
Inc. CSAP Co-Chairman
Update 04/12/04
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INDUSTRY POSITION ON NATIONAL SMALL ARMS CENTER

• We as Industry support the concept of a
  Consortium.
• Industry
• Committee of Small Arms Producers (CSAP)
• GDATP
• Colt Defense
• FNMI
• ATK
• Barrett
• HK
• What is CSAP?
• U.S. Government Small Arms Procurement, Program
  Management and Engineering Representatives
• Small Arms Industry Representatives
• NDIA

Organizing Committee
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• Why a Consortium?
• Started Concept to achieve more RD dollars from
  Army Budget (FEB 01)
• Visibility and Input of Small Arms Master Plan
• Industry and Government can be involved in
  Lobbying Activities through the Consortium (one
  voice)
• Use of existing Government and Industry Resources
  to decrease or limit costs Virtual Center
• Level playing field - allows for the teaming and
  information flow between members
• Not FAR covered for contracting - should expedite
  actions

- Improve link of government-industry-academi
a - Share and insert new
technology ideas - Eliminate
overlap/duplication - Within Government -
Across industry/academia -
Stimulate innovation
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• Industry Position
• We Agree With The Concept
• However, because we (CSAP) are part of the
  Consortium Organizing Committee we still have
  questions and concerns
• No more bricks and mortar, virtual is good,
  physical is expensive and against the original
  purpose of capitalizing on existing resources.
• Center of Excellence is not a single agency
  operation
• Other agencies participation required
• (Crane, SOCOM, AF, Navy, Police Agencies)

Not an Issue
We hope!
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Status

• Actions from Industry
• Evaluate input from Industry Days
• Review Todays Process vs. Tomorrows Process
  with a Consortium
• Input and support from other services
• Develop indicators and measures for determining
  success as well as a time frame
• Guarantee that membership will be limited to
  organizations with true interest and capabilities
  in Small Arms RD activities.
• Define the Scope of Work strictly around RD for
  Small Arms

Industry Day II
X
X
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• In Conclusion
• CSAP supports the overall concept to form a U.S.
  Small Arms Consortium consisting of the
  interested Academia, Industrial and Government
  Organizations. This Consortium should be focused
  on ongoing competitiveness and superiority of
  U.S. Small Arms technology and maintaining the
  needed capabilities of the U.S. Small Arms
  Industrial Base to assure continued U.S. defense
  superiority.
• CSAP support the formation of this Consortium in
  2004 to focus on
• Coordinated development of basic small arms
  weapons technology and specialty manufacturing
  processes specific to small arms applications

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• Providing a unified voice for coordinated
  communications on the importance of the U.S.
  Defense Small Arms Industry
• CSAP supports the formation of a virtual Small
  Arms Center of Excellence that facilitates the
  spread of the key knowledge base for small arms
  related technology throughout the U.S. Small Arms
  Consortium.
• There is still a lot of work to be done.
• There are still questions to be answered.

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What is needed to make NSATC Work Effectively
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Bottom Line
Government and Industry share equal
responsibility to make NSATC a true success!
The stated objectives of strengthening the voice
of the Small Arms Community, establishing OTA
structure, increased RD opportunities and access
to business opportunities requires the full
support and commitment of all in Industry and
Academia.
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The need of a concerted and coordinated effort by
the various U.S. Government agencies and military
services should be addressed as primary objective.
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Industry looks forward to being a part of the
success of this Center which will ultimately be
judged by the improved Small Arms cap- abilities
provided to our soldiers!