By Ryan Scirocco
Business Development Director, Advanced Effects, Missile Solutions
For decades, the defense industry has been built around a familiar model: The government defines a mission need, establishes a detailed set of requirements and industry develops a solution specifically to meet them.
That model has produced some of the most sophisticated defense technology in the world. However, today's fluid operating environment is challenging industry and government to think differently about when that approach is necessary, and when it is not.
Threats are evolving faster and technology cycles are contracting. Demand is increasing across critical capability areas. At the same time, the Department of War is placing greater emphasis on speed, production capacity and solutions that can move into the hands of warfighters faster. Recent acquisition reforms have emphasized industry-driven solutions and commercial products, along with more flexible approaches to getting capability into the field.
For industry, that creates an opportunity to rethink not only what we develop, but how we do so.
