The Army is using a new rapid prototyping and fielding, "middle-tier acquisition," authority granted by Congress to procure prototypes for its designated replacement for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, called the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. The authority, referred to as section 804, provides an alternative path for systems that can be fielded within five years or use proven technologies to upgrade existing systems, while bypassing typical oversight bodies that critics say slow the acquisition process. Brig. Gen. Ross Coffman, director of...
