Weapons Acquisition. Processes of Selected Foreign Government.
Abstract
In the United States, development testing is normally accomplished and managed by system commands within the military services. In France, the United Kingdom, and West Germany, their centralized procurement agencies perform development test and evaluation. Israel, on the other hand, allows its military services to perform development test and evaluation. The annual defense budget in the United States is considerably larger than in the other countries studied. The size of the defense industrial base and the number of prime contractors capable of producing the various types of defense products is considerably larger in the united states than in the other countries, and the availability of competition varied for prime contractors. In each country, the legislature exercises varying degrees of oversight over the defense budget and most major acquisition programs. In many respects our super-power adversary, the Soviet Union, offers the most contrast with the United States. The Soviet Union is first of all a planned, command economy, hierarchically organized, with a single political party. Defense needs are accorded top priority by the communist party and hence by the governing structure. The party is in on every weapon acquisition decision.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA164892
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office