The United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, is scheduled to announce significant changes on Friday. These reforms directly concern how the Pentagon procures weapons systems.
The primary goal of this major overhaul is to enable the military to acquire new technology much more quickly. This speed is vital for addressing increasing global security threats.
Hegseth is set to deliver his address at the National War College. Industry leaders and military commanders are expected to attend.
During the speech, he will detail the complete transformation of the Defense Acquisition System. This restructuring aligns with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April.
Targeting Inefficient Procurement
The central objective of these reforms is to correct what Pentagon officials describe as “unacceptably slow” procurement methods. Officials contend that broken accountability and poorly aligned incentives have severely hampered the military’s ability to rapidly deploy advanced technology.
The event will draw executives from major, established defense contractors, such as Lockheed Martin and RTX.
Newer defense industry players like Palantir Technologies, Ursa Major Technologies, and maritime drone maker Saronic will also be present.
Streamlining the Acquisition Chain
The planned restructuring introduces Portfolio Acquisition Executives. These new roles receive direct authority over major weapons programs. This is designed to eliminate layers of bureaucracy. Consequently, the revised acquisition chain will be streamlined.
It will run directly from program managers to these portfolio executives. It then goes straight to military service branch acquisition leaders.
This effectively removes all intermediate approval steps. The reforms also mandate specific sourcing requirements. All critical program content must have at least two qualified sources identified early in the production phase.
Prioritizing Speed and Commercial Solutions
This initiative represents the latest in a series of steps to modernize military spending. Earlier this year, the Pentagon already adjusted its procedures for acquiring software.
Under the new guidance, commercial products become the default acquisition method. This shift aims to simplify the solicitation process. Furthermore, the reforms introduce new contract incentives linked to delivery schedules. These incentives will reward contractors for early delivery and impose penalties, proportionate to the delay, for failures to meet deadlines.
Implementation of the new framework will be subject to strict scrutiny. The Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer will lead monthly Acquisition Acceleration Reviews. These sessions will monitor execution, dismantle administrative obstacles, and track competition within the defense industrial base.
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