BAD HARDWARE WEEK

According to two former US Army intelligence officers, the multi-billion-dollar DCGS-A military computer system that was designed to help the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan simply doesn't work. DCGS-A is meant to accrue intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and provide real-time battlefield analysis and the current location of high-value targets — but instead, it has hindered the war effort rather than helped. Major General Michael Flynn, the top intelligence officer in Afghanistan, says that DCGS-A's faults have even resulted in a loss of lives.

Distributed Common Ground System – Army (DCGS-A) provides the U.S. Army fully integrated and timely intelligence on the battlefield. DCGS-A interfaces with other DCGS nodes through the DCGS Integration Backbone.

The DCGS program establishes the core framework for a worldwide distributed, network centric, system-of-systems architecture that conducts collaborative intelligence operations and production. The DCGS Integration Backbone provides a distribution of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data, processes, and systems.

The Distributed Common Ground System – Army will consolidate the functions of 12 programs into an integrated ISR capability:

All Source Analysis System-Light (ASAS-L)
Analysis and Control Team-Enclave (ACT-E)
Block II Analysis and Control Element (ACE)
Common Ground Station (CGS)
Counter-and Human-Intelligence Management System (CHIMS)
Prophet Control
Integrated Meteorological and Environmental Terrain System Light (IMETS-L)
Digital Topographic Support System-Light (DTSS-L)
Guardrail/Guardrail Information Node (GRIFN)
Tactical Exploitation System (TES)
Ground Control System (GCS)
Enhanced Trackwolf

BAD HARDWARE: Its price? $2,7B only.