Recent Improvements in Acquisition Speed to Initial Operational Capability

Abstract

Threats and technology are changing at a faster pace, so defense acquisition needs to respond quickly to meet warfighter and operator needs. With emphasis on speeding acquisition, has delivery of initial capabilities gotten faster? Analysis of the time between formal initiation of Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) at Milestone (MS) B or C to achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC) found statistically significant reductions since 2010. Using Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) and Modernized SAR (MSAR) schedule data, analysis found that MDAPs initiated at MS B since January 2010 took an average of 5.6 years compared to 8.7 years before 2010. MDAPs that initiated at MS C (i.e., using relatively mature technology and thus skipping MS B —a best practice for speed) reached IOC in an average of 3.5 years overall with no statistical difference before or since 2010. Combining these cases, programs started at either MS B or C since January 2010 took an average of 5.1 years compared to 8.1 years before 2010. While some caution is warranted given the relatively low population sizes, these results indicate that the Warfighting Acquisition System has made statistically significant progress in speeding initial capabilities to the warfighter.