A Critical Assessment of the New Defense Acquisition Strategy.
Abstract
The Department of Defense has embraced a 'new' approach to materiel acquisition that restructures defense programs in, response to the realities of the post cold-war defense budgets. This paper defines the new Department of Defense acquisition strategy and conducts a critical analyses of its major features. By comparing the new strategy to the existing process that is embodied in the Life Cycle System Management Model, the author shows that the 'new' strategy institutionalizes and exacerbates the deficiencies that are characteristically present current acquisition programs The factors impacting on program stability are addressed in detail. These include inadequacy of cost projections, funding instability, and requirements instability. Causes of program stretchouts and the impacts of prototypes on cost and schedule are also addressed. The Army modernization program, which is properly focused on maintaining land dominance, is not achievable if the new acquisition strategy is followed. The result of the analysis demonstrates the infeasibility of the 'new' Department of Defense acquisition strategy and concludes that technological superiority will be lost if defense programs are forced to comply with this flawed approach to procurement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA263674
Entities
People
- Ricardo S. Sanchez
Organizations
- United States Army War College