Next generation ship-borne ASW-system: an exemplary exertion of methodologies and tools applied according to the German military acquisition guidelines

Abstract

The German Armed forces acquisition guideline, the Customer Product Management (CPM), regulates the principal acquisition process steps including the responsibilities between civil and military departments. Many of the CPMs specified deliverables, like formulating needs, writing requirements and conducting analysis, are created and managed by military personnel that are assigned to support the acquisition management. These military personnel are not always familiar with the common systems engineering and acquisition methodologies and tools. The capabilities of the German armed forces are derived based on missions and tasks. The variation and number of needed capabilities leads to a greater likelihood of risk, threat and funding. ASW missions currently are no longer considered primary capabilities of the German Navy. The ASW ships in service cannot accommodate the future ASW helicopter (MH90), which will cause the loss of utilization of this primary warfighting ASW sensor and weapon. On the other hand ships without any ASW capabilities, like the F125, can accommodate ASW helicopters. This dilemma is still unresolved by naval leaders. This thesis shall examine the German basic acquisition guidelines and present applicable systems engineering methodologies and tools considering existing regulations. A basic systems engineering process will be demonstrated using a possible German Navy next generation ship-borne ASW-system through the presented methodologies.