Management Issues in the Use of Commercial Components in Military Systems

Abstract

Commercial off the shelf (COTS) products are being used increasingly in military systems an approach that offers many advantages including lower initial acquisition costs faster delivery to the front line and ability to utilize the latest advances in technology - a seemingly perfect match to the "faster better cheaper" ethos of modern acquisition initiatives. COTS products do however bring their own problems including rapid obsolescence lack of product control and fixed functionality optimized for the non-military market. In addition to addressing the complex technical issues that the use of COTS products brings Defence Ministries and Industry will have to adapt their management approach and practices if the full potential of using commercial technology is to be realized and dangerous pitfalls avoided. This paper discusses some of the management issues that will have to be addressed and draws a number of lessons relating to the avoidance of obsolescence problems during the in-service life of a system or platform.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADP010981

Entities

People

  • Richard Ellis

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Application Software
  • Commerce
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Configuration Management
  • Contracts
  • Costs
  • Information Systems
  • Infrastructure
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Procurement
  • Mobile Phones
  • Operating Systems
  • Procurement
  • Standards

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.