An Analysis of Weapon System Acquisition Intervals, Past and PresentCritics of weapon system acquisition frequently claim that management process changes during the 1960s and 1970s caused the acquisition cycle to lengthen. A review of three classes of aerospace systems--aircraft, missiles, and helicopters--shows that over the past 30 years the time from the beginning of full scale development to delivery of the first operational item has changed only slightly, but average production rates have fallen by half. The planning phase corresponding to today's Phase I (from Milestone I to Milestone II) has nearly doubled, and the introduction of Phase Zero may have added still more time, but evidence on Phase Zero effects is still tenuous. Opportunities for shortening the acquisition cycle time appear to lie mainly in flexible application of the regulations governing approval of the Mission Element Need Statement (MENS), and in some cases the Services should be allowed to proceed simultaneously with Phase Zero, and even Phase I, studies while the MENS is being reviewed. |
Contents
AH1 | 1 |
THE PLANNING PHASE | 9 |
HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION PHASE 20 2885 | 20 |
Copyright | |
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14 October 200th delivery 200th operational 28 February 28 September 31 December acquisition cycle acquisition intervals airframe all-weather announces approved April attack aircraft August beginning of full-scale Boeing bomber concept formulation contract definition contractors contracts awarded Convair cost Date Event Source December decision Definitive contract delivered development contract DSARC Dynamics engine Enters operational service fighter aircraft flight testing formal FSD start full-scale development GOR issued Grumman helicopter initial interceptor January July June Letter contract Lockheed March McDonnell Douglas Milestone missile Mock-up inspection Model months per decade North American Northrop November operational delivery percent Phase Zero studies planning phase preproduction procurement production aircraft production contract production delivery proposals prototype flight prototype phase requirement sample SECDEF Secretary of Defense September 1956 significance probability Strategic Air Command submit tactical trend U.S. Army U.S. Navy USAF VFAX VOUGHT CORSAIR weapon system