The conceptual SWPS computing environment consists of graphics workstations as the predominant application-processing platform. A global server provides access to printers and global data (data used by more than one SWPS application). External links are controlled by the global server through guard processors. The communications backbone contains four rings supporting TOP SECRET SIOP/Extremely Sensitive, TOP SECRET, SECRET, and UNCLASSIFIED information processing.
The SWPS Modernization Program is a consolidation of several upgrade projects that respond to major program planning guidance objectives identified in the DoD Defense Guidance issued in May 1992, and listed as part of the USSTRATCOM SWPS Mission Need Statement (August 3, 1993). A February 1994 system decision memorandum established the acquisition program and initiated OSD oversight of the program. The test strategy has been structured to evaluate the system throughout the course of entire SIOP cycles, as major applications are ready for evaluation. A recent decision to accelerate the modernization effort has resulted in a test program that conducted its first operational test in 1997. A full system OA was conducted in FY98.
Since 1994, the 100-plus members from USSTRATCOM’s J5 and J6 directorates that comprise the Strategic War Planning System/Enterprise Database (SWPS/EDB) team have managed the modernization of the SWPS system that generates the Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP). That modernization is expected to save the government between $7 and $15 million by moving SWPS from a mainframe system to a modern, client-server network environment. In addition, the modernization consolidated 24 databases into a single, more efficient EDB, with a ten-fold reduction in the different types of data or data elements within the database itself. The SWPS Program office has been at the forefront of Acquisition reform embracing the Corporate Information Management (CIM) initiative and the concepts of Functional Process Improvements (FPI) and Activity Based Costing (ABC). From the development and approval of the Functional Economic Analysis (FEA) in January 1994 to the Major Automated Information Systems Review Council (MAISRC), the SWPS program office has restructured to streamline the acquisition and functional processes. Functional Integrated Product Teams (IPT) worked to accelerate modernization by 3 years reducing near-real maintenance and SIOP development time from 18 to 15 months with a further reduction objective to 6 months upon reaching a Full Operational Capability. Upon a completing modernization, personnel will have been cut by 26% at savings of more than $13 million a year. Acquisition streamlining has supported overall Program savings of approximately 65 million by simplifying contracting procedures and decreasing documentation requirements. Streamlining also allowed for quickly implementing community standard analysis models reducing duplication/costs and facilitating collaborative planning.In accordance with the DOT&E-approved TEMP (January 1997), AFOTEC conducted an IOT&E on the SWPS Missile Application using the Single Integrated Operational Plan process in July 1997. The primary criteria for measuring missile application system performance consisted of time-to-plan requirements and field abort percentages. The IOT&E revealed no major problems; however, there were some shortcomings. The missile planning subsystem demonstrated the required performance throughout the test. The users thought the system was a significant improvement over the legacy system. Shortcomings fell in the area of suitability¾ primarily document production, error abatement and complexity. Software documentation also needed improvement.