Well, it has been quite a while since I posted last. Much has happened — though much like “three steps forward, two back”. Despite the pain, I believe that the steps forward are solid ones. We have continual advance in connections with technology leaders required in the larger picture for success.

In the last few months we had meetings with a couple remaining defense avenues thought to readily fit the Jake program and its technology advances. With DARPA, despite encouragement going in, we unfortunately were positioned with a PM (Program Manager) that was ultimately interested in our team’s abilities in development of high-end mathematical modeling and simulation of tactical and logistics metrics for effects of modularity on efficiencies of performance. These are big parts of the Jake Modular Platform program — but the weak side of this for us was that the interest expressed at DARPA that day was of theories of protection provided by the 70 ton tank, and future of such (now called Ground Combat Vehicle, or GCV), and unique ideas with our modularity that might help explore deliver-ability of heavy armor to areas of future operations (the “DARPA Hard” stuff).

Please take a look at February’s blog post just below so I don’t have to go into my thoughts on this blog post relative to the direction taken by this particular DARPA PM.

Following this meeting, I had to regroup my thoughts and see whether there was “lemonade to be made from the lemons”. I started scripting and outlining what would be needed to act here (thinking we might have benefit of achieving metrics helpful to Jake in providing “discovery” in efficiencies of modularity for sea-basing, despite interest now being armor oriented). However, a partial team meeting later, it was clear we had to step back from this angle of potential funding because this funding, and the paths inherent with it, would take our team off mission — Our theory and developments being focus on light, agile and tactical.

Taking another tough hit, I had to then solidify our staying on mission, a decision agreed by those of our long-standing tech and support team. An insight gained was that one element in DARPA stated the sum of the Jake concepts as one of the most tactically intelligent systems seen. Insights also were again that politics can blunt movement if not finding the right “champion” for the program, and movement is easily stopped if not meeting pre-determined lines of thought and not achieving consensus in a risk-averse political theater.

But, behind this, the issue of our nation’s critical need in defense transformation for today’s fight isn’t going away. The trends in technology, and in increasingly dispersed warfare, and thus, increasing needs for rapid reaction force/peacekeeping, continue on their paths (and it is not towards 70 ton tanks). In fact several of our latest design evolutions with the Jake, as I continue thought to meet challenges our young warfighers face, are advances that excite tactical maneuverists (sorry these can’t be on the website)

I thank those of out team standing with me during this time. Key leaders in the Marine Corps spoke recently in appreciation of our holding the line for ability of the Jake program to come forward cleanly as the agile tactical system that they see and want. I also thank our advisers (well versed in unconventional warfare, both defense and commercial) for continuing to work this program with me, and tackling the next steps in breaking bureaucratic limitations.

As much as I weaken at times, our young warriors are still out in the fight for us, and this is no time to be wimps and slackers. It is time for doing everything we can to get them the equipment they need to develop new tactics and keep America’s edge. There is a way!

Let’s Power ‘Em Up!

Russ