ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, Md., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army says it aims to develop and deploy "build-your-own" modular computers that can be scaled and tailored for missions and vehicles.
The family of tactical combat computers -- the Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS) -- would replace multiple systems and monitors now used for situational awareness.
"By offering basic through advanced computing and display capabilities, we can satisfy the needs of several mission command applications while eliminating the burden of operating different computers in the same vehicle," said Dominic Satili, deputy product manager for Blue Force Tracking, assigned to Project Manager Joint Battle Command-Platform. "The soldier only has to learn how to operate one computer."
An award for development and production of MFoCS was given earlier this summer to DRS Tactical Systems Inc. of Florida. The Army said the award was a three-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award but did not disclose its monetary value.
Development of the MFoCS involves three models in a building-block approach. The basic configuration is a tablet; the intermediate model adds a processing unit with a 12, 15 or 17 inch display. The advanced model includes two intermediate units for a total of three work stations.
The Army said that the system, using multiple software on a single hardware solution in a combat vehicle, would reduce the size, weight and power demands, and enhance tactical interoperability of computers.
