Developing Army Capabilities via Tailored Acquisition Processes: Meeting the Capability Needs of the U.S. Army Warfighter

Historically, the traditional acquisition process has taken too many years to design, develop, assess performance, deliver and produce warfighter capabilities. Alternative acquisition processes are implemented to deliver capabilities to the warfighter quicker. This research explores tailored acquisition methods and reviews how tailoring the acquisition approach supports accelerated delivery of urgent and emerging warfighters capabilities. The Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 5000.02, Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF), identifies a 2 year and 5 year accelerated acquisition pathway. These pathways guide the Department of Defense (DoD) in developing an accelerated acquisition strategy to deliver capability in a relevant timeline. The Army, in response to the AAF, provides guidance for tailoring the acquisition of operational capabilities, to include urgent operational requirements, in the Army Regulation (AR) 71-9. A Directed Requirement (DR) is one acquisition approach implemented by the Army that enables design, integration, and accelerated delivery of urgent capabilities. In 2018, the Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (MSHORAD) Product Office executed a DR to meet an urgent Army air and missile defense operational need. The Product Manager implemented a tailored acquisition strategy to meet the requirements identified in the DR. Overall, the efforts were successful, however, this research provides recommendations for modifications and potential future research. Two programs, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and Initial Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD), are highlighted to provide examples of the Army's accelerated delivery of warfighters capabilities via tailored acquisition approaches. This research will examine whether tailoring the acquisition approach facilitates accelerating the delivery timeline of warfighters capabilities.