A Cost Estimating Methodology for Advanced Air Vehicles: The System Cost/Technology Tradeoff (SCOTT) Model

The Fixed Wing Vehicle (FWV) IPST of the Wright Laboratory Flight Dynamics Directorate is developing tools for use in the comparison and evaluation of new technologies offering improvement in cost and performance for future military and commercial aircraft. A series of Technology Development Approaches (TDAs) developed at DoD set goals for percentage improvements in various categories of aircraft performance, including cost. The advanced technology air vehicle cost model developed in this proposed effort is a critical link in the suite of tools required by TDA analysis for determining the allocation of a limited budget of Science and Technology funds for technology development. An innovative model is proposed based on the System Cost/Technology Tradeoff (SCOTT) methodology pioneered by Tecolote Research. The SCOTT approach uses a hybrid estimating methodology which incorporates the best attributes of parametric and build-up cost estimating to achieve rapid response while retaining sensitivity to the cost impacts of advanced technology insertions. The proposed SCOTT_AV model for advanced air vehicles will provide objective life cycle cost comparisons across varied material and technology alternatives based on conceptual level inputs and remain consistent as design details become available.