Design and Acquisition of Software for Defense Systems
Abstract
The Task Force has made seven recommendations on how to improve software acquisition in defense systems. A base recommendation underlying all others is to emphasize the importance of the software factory and to incorporate the software factory as a key evaluation criterion in the source selection process. Next, the Department of Defense (DoD) and its defense industrial base partners need to adopt continuous iterative development best practices. The study recommends DoD adopt best practices on risk reduction and metrics in formal program acquisition strategies. Software strategies must be better incorporated in current and legacy programs from development, production, and sustainment. The Task Force recommends ways to improve the software and acquisition workforce, in both software development expertise and the broader functional acquisition work force. Next, software is immortal and contracts must be framed to allow for software sustainment. Finally, the Task Force recommends further research into machine learning and the implementation of an independent verification and validation process for machine learning and autonomy in software systems. Software is a crucial and growing part of weapons systems and the Department needs to be able to sustain immortal software indefinitely. The Task Force concluded that the Department of Defense would benefit from the implementation of continuous iterative development best practices as software becomes an increasingly important part of defense systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1048883
Entities
Organizations
- Defense Science Board