Integrating Defense into the Civilian Technology and Industrial Base
Abstract
IDA conducted research for the Defense Conversion Commission on the implications of conversion for the technology and industrial base necessary for DoD to carry out its mission of reconstituting or building back its forces in a period of six to eight years. In the post-Cold War security environment, this must be done with reduced defense budgets under circumstances in which DoD technology no longer dominates commercial technology and U.S. technology is no longer dominant. The main thesis of this study is that these circumstances require that DoD transform its approach to development and acquisition to substantially increase the use of commercial firms and commercial technologies. Obstacles to this are (1) regulatory requirements and (2) R&D practices. Federal and DoD regulatory requirements create barriers to entry from outside and prevent DoD from making the best use of commercial products and technologies. Technology development has focused on military performance with little connection to production in relationship to commercial industry. The authors propose two thrusts: (1) eliminate unnecessary regulations and product requirements, and then tailor the remainder of the regulations to minimize the burden; and (2) refocus defense research and technology both to make better use of commercial technology directly, and to make it easier and more economical to use commercial products and processes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA266286
Entities
People
- Herschel Kanter
- Richard H. Van Atta
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses