Rapid Acquisition Impact on Major Defense Acquisition Programs
Abstract
Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statements (JUONS) and other demands from warfighters can significantly impact the cost, schedule, and performance of well-established Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP). JUONS and other unplanned requirement changes require streamlining of Defense Acquisition System (DAS) processes to meet immediate operational requirements. Rapid Acquisition is one such streamlining process. To acquire a capability rapidly may require programs to divert critical program of record assets and resources. Such diversions also can directly or indirectly affect many other integrated programs. MDAPs that follow a traditional sequential development acquisition process, versus an evolutionary acquisition cycle, struggle to meet both the objective program of record requirements and rapid acquisition demands. This paper examines the impact of rapid acquisition demands on MDAPs and provides recommendations to improve the DAS and MDAP processes to satisfy unplanned but essential warfighter requirements. The paper includes a case study of the Army's procurement of the Extended Range Multipurpose Unmanned Aircraft System (ER/MP).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA520036
Entities
People
- Anthony S. Pelczynski
Organizations
- United States Army War College