Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations (ACTDs): Can They Streamline the Joint Acquisition Process?

Abstract

The Department of Defense's (DoD) acquisition system, fed by large defense budgets, flourished during the Reagan and Bush eras and produced technologically advanced weapons systems. But, today, declining defense budgets are forcing the Pentagon to explore new ways of fielding new technologies, cost-effectively and expeditiously, to the Services. Unfortunately, DoD's acquisition system has become too entangled in rigid rules and regulations to permit efficient and timely fielding of new technologies to the battlefield. The dilemma facing the military is how to get technologically advanced weapons and equipment to the field quickly and cost-effectively while dealing with a dwindling checkbook. The answer may be a new acquisition process called Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations (ACTD). This paper will examine the notion behind ACTDs and its applicability to streamlining the acquisition process.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA308616

Entities

People

  • Philip R. Westcott Iii
  • Richard L. Recordon

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Battlefields
  • Budgets
  • Department Of Defense
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Applications
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Space Systems
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Economics
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.