The Live Training Transformation (LT2) Software Product Line (SPL) team established a mature live training SPL within the U.S. Army's Project Manager Training Devices (PM TRADE), allowing for the realization of significant improvements in cost savings and cost avoidance in development and sustainment of live training systems. Through sustained commitment and determination, the LT2 SPL team, worked with the live training acquisition leadership and training product teams to transform the PM TRADE organization from a collection of mostly stovepipe products into an SPL-oriented organization focused on systemic software reuse, standards, common solutions, processes, tools, and governance. This continuing transformation has generated a significant return-on-investment to date within PM TRADE's live training system acquisition portfolio generating over three hundred million dollars in cost avoidance across the development of live training systems to include Combat Training Centers Instrumentation Systems, Home Station Instrumentation Systems, Instrumented Ranges, and Targetry.
The LT2 SPL strategy maintains the combat edge and builds resilience in our forces by providing state-of-the-art training systems to the Warfighter using common reusable software components, architectural infrastructure, interfaces, standards, processes, and assets. With over 150 systems fielded globally, LT2 successfully employs technical and acquisition strategies that significantly reduce fielding time, minimize acquisition costs, enable total ownership cost reductions across the Live Training domain and Live, Virtual, Constructive-Integrated Training Environment (LVC-ITE), and enhance training benefits afforded to the Warfighter. This paper provides an overview and lessons learned from the LT2 SPL accomplishments and benefits of the holistic approach that the LT2 SPL team has achieved. Furthermore, key historical, on-going, and future challenges in managing a successful SPL within the Department of Defense acquisition environment will be addressed.