Cheaper, Faster, Better?: Commercial Approaches to Weapons Acquisition

This report discusses the Issues surrounding more effective utilisation of the civilian industrial base by the Department of Defence (DoD) and the U.S. Air Force. The first section of the report focuses on the dual-use nature of civillan and military industrial bases. The technology area studies, radar-related and other radio-frequency microwave devices, has traditionally been defence-specific. The second section of the report identifies mechanisms for minimising the risks of inadequate product performance and excessively high cost in less-regulated commercial market environments. It discusses how well these mechanisms have worked in a defence-relevant commercial sector - the large transport aircraft industry - as well as in several experimental and pilot programs Initiated by the Air Force and other defence agencies and services.