This paper discusses the “new climate for weapons system procurement.” The technological explosion and the uniqueness of weapon system developments contrasted to commercial developments are prime reasons for today’s problems in weapon system procurement. Output contracting has worked in the past but not for reliability. More surveillance by the procuring agency is the consequence of the past unreliabilities. Until industry takes the lead and makes reliability improvement activities standard operating practice, detailed input surveillance by the government will be the accepted industry-government relationship.
