Fielding at the Speed of Relevance

The Department of War is mandating a new approach to deliver critical capabilities to troops in the field with greater speed and urgency. This new paradigm will benefit from enablers that can mitigate risks in equipment programs, particularly in system reliability and long-term sustainment, which can account for up to 70 percent of a weapon system's total cost. As organizations accelerate their timelines and potentially reduce their full-up system testing programs, approaches are needed to ensure system robustness and to mitigate risk. A menu of options exists today for program managers, acquisition personnel, and sustainment professionals. This presentation will provide an overview of each of the following solutions that provide program managers and acquisition personnel with options to accelerate their programs while mitigating risk.
Early Component Testing: Long before a full system is ready for large-scale operational tests, its individual components can be rigorously evaluated. Using advanced simulators and lab environments allows engineers to find and fix potential failure points early in the design process when modifications are simplest and least expensive. This proactive approach helps streamline final system-level testing, saving time and resources.
Modeling and Simulation: Modeling and Simulation (M&S) is one of the most powerful and inexpensive tools for accelerating development. Digital testing of everything from vehicle dynamics to the thermal performance of electronics allows for the rapid exploration of designs before a physical part is made. In one case, M&S predicted that a circuit card's original design would lead to over 300 component failures. A simple, validated redesign reduced displacement by approximately 80 percent, avoiding a costly delay.
Scorecards and Engineering Reviews: The Transformation Decision Analysis Center (TDAC) has developed reliability scorecards for weapons systems and artificial intelligence applications based on leading practices from industry, government, and academia. These scorecards along with early engineering reviews provide substantial risk mitigation, even for commercial off-the-shelf systems, by using existing information to identify challenges before they emerge.
Leveraging All Data Sources: To make the most informed decisions, programs must leverage all available data. By using Bayesian-based statistical approaches, organizations can create a more complete picture of system performance, potentially reducing the need for physical testing by 60 percent or more.
Mastering Modern Complexity: Today’s military systems are increasingly complex and software-intensive. Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), a modern hazard analysis technique developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is designed to analyze these systems. It helps identify risks that emerge from the complex interactions between components, not just from individual failures, which is crucial for developing robust autonomous and AI-enabled platforms.

Function-Based Reliability: Ultimately, a system is judged by its ability to perform its mission. A function-based assessment places test results into an operational context. This approach helps prioritize risk mitigation by connecting system performance directly to the essential tasks soldiers must perform, ensuring development is always focused on what matters most for mission success.
Fielding at the Speed of Relevance: The transformation of the acquisition system is an urgent and necessary step to equip U.S. forces for the future. This is not a call to cut corners but a mandate to be smarter and more proactive. By embracing this menu of risk-reduction strategies, the acquisition workforce is empowered to manage risk intelligently and deliver superior capabilities to the warfighter with speed and relevance. This presentation will address these options for reducing risk and achieving DoW rapid fielding goals.