INNOVATION AND MILITARY REQUIREMENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

A detailed examination of two major innovations in military aeronautics--turbojet propulsion and the variable-sweep wing--using the classical economic investment model. Three phases of the innovation process are distinguished: invention or conception, demonstration of feasibility, and acceptance or adoption. Patterns of innovation characterizing the evolution of jet engines and of variable-sweep wings tend to resemble one another. All evidence suggests that once an innovation reaches the stage where appraisal is appropriate, technical feasibility demonstrations should be conducted as quickly and cheaply as possible. Feasibility should not be subordinated to an existing requirement, but the requirement should be built around the demonstration capability of the innovation. Wartime stresses encourage early exploitation of innovations, but during peacetime the military must have more compelling evidence of technical feasibility before investing in novel devices.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0659735

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Perry

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Configurations
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Business Administration
  • Engineers
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Gas Turbines
  • Hydrofoils
  • Jet Aircraft
  • Jet Engines
  • Research Aircraft
  • Supersonic Aircraft
  • Swept Wings
  • Turbojet Engines
  • Variable Sweep Wings

Readers

  • Economics
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Theoretical Analysis.