GAO Report on Weapon Systems Testing
In a recent report entitled, “Weapon Systems Testing: DOD Needs to Update Policies to Better Support Modernization Efforts” the Government Accounting Office suggests that the US military adopt iterative testing processes to further modernize its newly adopted acquisition methodology.
Common in software development, iterative testing is a repeated cycle of developing, testing, and refining a product in small, incremental steps, using user feedback and data from each cycle to make gradual improvements, rather than aiming for a perfect release all at once. Already adopted to rapidly fill emerging warfighting gaps like Counter-UAS and Electromagnetic Warfare, where there is little to no current capability, this process has not yet been applied to larger systems such as aircraft, ships and armored vehicles. In fact, the constant swing for the fence and a 10X capability improvement has stymied multiple programs.
The GAO offers 13 recommendations. They are extensive and directed at the Department writ large as well as the service departments.
Specifically, they recommend involvement of testers in acquisition strategies; iterative approaches to testing, including use of digital twins and threads; and ongoing end user input. DOD concurred with seven recommendations, partially concurred with five recommendations, and did not concur with one recommendation.
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