The traditional procurement model simply can’t deal with the rapid changes that occur in network technology. So, twice a year they put a bunch of off-the-shelf items in the hands of soldiers, integrate everything, and evaluate their make-shift networks on remote desolate testing grounds. The idea is to get immediate feedback from warfighters and exploit the commercial sector’s advantage in fielding the latest advances.
Why are there more offerings than customers?
These questions were raised in the Unmanned Systems group in LinkedIn. It provoked a number of insightful comments about the current state of unmanned systems and its future. If you are a member of LinkedIn, and can log in, you can read the discussion here.
This line of thinking can be described as “Reversibility,” a buzzword that has assumed prominence among those vendors who are trying to navigate the planned drawdowns and future budget cuts. “Reversibility” acknowledges the overwhelming historical evidence that we have a rotten track record of preparing for the next war, and we need to be able to change course as the situation warrants.
