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Military Acquisition and Procurement

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Maintaining a military that is prepared to face uncertain future security challenges often requires the acquisition and procurement of new and technologically advanced equipment, which is a major expense for any nation. For decades, RAND has researched and evaluated military acquisition and procurement activities, providing essential recommendations to allow military decisionmakers to manage costs and streamline the acquisition process more effectively.

Commentary

Bad Idea: Overly Focusing on Development and Acquisition Speed

Dec 16, 2020

The Pentagon has in recent years turned its attention to the need for speed in weapons system development and acquisition. While shortening the timeline for program development and fielding is important for Defense Department acquisition leaders, overly prioritizing speed can lead to issues with program management, sustainment, and other areas.
Report

Defense Acquisition in Russia and China

Jul 14, 2021

Russia and China have sought to modernize their legacy defense equipment while concurrently developing new and increasingly sophisticated systems. In which areas does each country excel and where do they have challenges?

Explore Military Acquisition and Procurement

Commentary

Is Russia's Su-75 'Checkmate' Aircraft a Case of Vapor Marketing?

During a Moscow air show last summer, Russia rolled out a mockup of the Su-75, a multipurpose fighter-bomber designed to compete in the global marketplace. But given the Russian aerospace sector's difficulties in developing, let alone delivering, advanced combat aircraft, prospective buyers should consider a range of options to meet defense needs.

Jan 6, 2022
Report

Assessing the Readiness of Contractor-Provided Space Operations Capabilities

There are a significant number of private contractors performing space operations functions and tasks for the Air Force. This report examines how the Air Force evaluates its ability to deliver space operations capabilities provided by contractors.

Jan 3, 2022
Report

Weighing the Cost and Necessity of Nuclear Modernization

The United States has fielded a Triad of air-, sea-, and land-based nuclear delivery systems since the 1950s. Major components are nearing the end of their service lives, raising the question of whether to extend or replace them. Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to modernize, diversify, and expand their nuclear arsenals.

Jan 3, 2022
Report

Improving Intelligence Support to the Future Warfighter: Acquisition for the Contested Environment

In view of new and increasingly sophisticated threats from peer and near-peer adversaries, the authors suggest reforms to the processes by which intelligence informs the U.S. Air Force acquisition enterprise.

Nov 4, 2021
Report

Is the Defense Acquisition System Postured to Solve National Defense Strategy Operational Problems?

The authors propose assessing the defense acquisition system's ability to overcome the operational problems outlined in the 2018 National Defense Strategy, discuss why the approach is valuable, and suggest next steps.

Sep 20, 2021
Report

Data Rights Relevant to Weapon Systems in Air Force Special Operations Command

The Air Force needs better access to contractors' technical data to sustain core military aircraft assets and subsystems. For this to happen, the U.S. government needs the appropriate license rights and actual possession of the data.

Sep 2, 2021
Report

A Clean Sheet Approach to Space Acquisition in Light of the New Space Force

The authors describe an unconstrained "clean sheet" approach to space acquisition for the U.S. Space Force designed around the unique mission and calling of the new service.

Aug 25, 2021
Report

Acquiring a Mosaic Force: Issues, Options, and Trade-Offs

Mosaic Warfare envisions more fractionated, heterogeneous forces, dynamically composed on tactical timelines. In this report, the authors present insights from a policy game to assess alternative governance models for acquiring a Mosaic force.

Aug 9, 2021
Report

Supporting Joint Warfighter Readiness: Opportunities and Incentives for Interservice and Intraservice Coordination with Training-Simulator Acquisition and Use

As conflicts increasingly involve joint operations, joint simulation-based training becomes more important. The authors examine gaps between joint training needs and current and future resources to improve coordination within and among the services.

Aug 4, 2021
Report

A Review of U.S. Army Non-Materiel Capability-Development Processes

This report analyzes non-materiel DOTLPF-P (doctrine, organization, training, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, policy) processes to help identify issues and changes to improve how the Army implements non-materiel solutions.

Aug 3, 2021
Commentary

A Taiwan Contingency and Japan's Counterstrike Debate

The United States and Japan could be drawn into a conflict in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan whether they like it or not. Allied defense planning could consider how Japan might further reinforce deterrence and if necessary improve its ability to contribute to the common defense.

Jul 23, 2021
Multimedia

Understanding the Value of Defence

RAND Europe Defence, Security and Infrastructure director Ruth Harris and Research Leader James Black examine the ‘value proposition’ of UK defence in this audio conversation. They explore how the value it brings to the nation can be better articulated across government, to partners and to the wider public.

Jul 13, 2021
Report

Understanding the Value of Defence: Towards a Defence Value Proposition for the UK

The UK Ministry of Defence asked RAND to develop a 'Defence Value Proposition' to provide a better understanding of why defence exists and how the value it brings to the nation can be better articulated to government, partners and the wider public.

Jul 13, 2021
Report

Challenges and barriers that limit the productivity and competitiveness of UK defence supply chains

Small and medium-sized companies attempting to enter and operate in the UK's defence market face several barriers that can limit productivity of defence supply chains. Addressing these challenges is key to improving productivity and competitiveness.

Jul 6, 2021
Report

Persistent Challenges in UK Defence Equipment Acquisition

This paper identifies underlying and cross-cutting factors that contribute to seemingly intractable challenges in defence equipment acquisition programmes. It also discusses measures that could help address these inefficiencies going forward.

Jun 23, 2021
Report

The Army's Local Economic Effects: Appendix B, Volume 1: Alabama Through Minnesota; 2nd Edition

This appendix to the second edition of The Army's Local Economic Effects describes overall economic effects by state, details by fiscal year from 2014 to 2017, and a parsing of data by congressional district for Alabama through Minnesota.

Mar 8, 2021
Report

The Army's Local Economic Effects: Appendix B, Volume 2: Mississippi Through Wyoming; 2nd Edition

This appendix to the second edition of The Army's Local Economic Effects describes overall economic effects by state, details by fiscal year from 2014 to 2017, and a parsing of data by congressional district for Mississippi through Wyoming.

Mar 8, 2021
Report

The Army's Local Economic Effects: 2nd Edition

This report updates a previous report with findings on the economic activity supported by national-level Army spending in each of the 435 congressional districts for fiscal years 2014 through 2017.

Mar 8, 2021
Report

Comparing the Cost-Effectiveness of Expendable Versus Reusable Small Air Vehicles

When using small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), what are the relative costs of using expendable systems versus reusable systems? Research suggests they should be considered for a range of roles, including as decoys, jammers, or reconnaissance platforms.

Feb 23, 2021

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RAND Topic:
Military Acquisition and Procurement

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