DII hits international markets
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Software products that comprise the Defense Information Infrastructure are in demand by U.S. military allies and coalition partners. For instance, Canada has bought parts of the Global Command and Control System. Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia are reviewing the GCCS components. And the United Kingdom likes the looks of the Defense Department's new Common Operating Environment.
Software products that comprise the Defense Information Infrastructure are in demand by
U.S. military allies and coalition partners.
For instance, Canada has bought parts of the Global Command and Control System. Japan,
Australia and Saudi Arabia are reviewing the GCCS components. And the United Kingdom likes
the looks of the Defense Department's new Common Operating Environment.
To promote these sales and to make sure that foreign military systems are interoperable
with DOD systems, the Defense Information Systems Agency is beefing up its role in foreign
military sales (FMS) of DII products. DISA's director, Lt. Gen. Albert Edmonds, has
designated the Joint Requirements Analysis and Integration unit, or D-7, as the point of
contact for FMS.
"This is a way to promote DISA products of the DII," said Michael Mestrovich,
D-7 deputy director. He said this is a natural role for DISA as the executive agent for
the DII.
"It's also a way to manage configuration of products we sell," Mestrovich
said. "We want FMS to be more formalized than it has been."
Although the software modules DISA sells are in some cases commercial items that could
be bought directly from a vendor, Mestrovich said DISA still will act as an FMS reseller
to make sure all foreign-bound products conform to DISA standards.
Mestrovich said D-7 has not established a formal price list for the DII products,
preferring to handle pricing for each sale individually. He added that countries intend to
use the software in different ways.
Japan, for instance, is looking at DII components to aid it in civilian disaster
recovery following earthquakes and floods. The United Kingdom sees the software as crucial
to interoperability with the United States in military exercises.
So far, military allies have concentrated interest on the COE and the GCCS. Italy and
South Korea also have expressed interest in the GCCS, Mestrovich said.
Products for information security, the Defense Message System and the Defense
Information Systems Network will be in demand as well, he predicts.
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