May 05, 2026

Experts Make Their Picks for Acquisition Reform Litmus Tests

By: Stacie Pettyjohn

This article was originally published on National Defense.

The real question with acquisition reform is not whether the Pentagon can move fast when it absolutely has to — it can — but whether it can do so consistently, across programs and over time. Senior leaders can bend and push the acquisition process, as they did with Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, when there is an urgent need. But the average acquisition timeline needs to decline significantly, so that fielding fast and upgrading frequently becomes the norm rather than the exception.

If the department cannot pass these easy tests, there is little reason to believe it will do well on the harder ones.

As tests, I would examine three cases where the technology is already proven and there is no major development risk: Army small uncrewed aerial systems acquisition, cheap long-range missiles and one-way attack drones, and counter-UAS systems for mobile forces.

Read the full article on National Defense.

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