In his inaugural overseas trip, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of Asian alliances to meet China's military rise. But the pace of military innovation slowed in the 1960s with the advent of a centralised procurement system that prioritised performance and predictability over speed. In addition, navigating the labyrinthine military procurement system requires specialised knowledge and resources – which many smaller firms don't have. "So, by not being able to tap commercial innovation, the military is losing out on most of its opportunities," he said. Those conflicts, which have consumed military attention for two decades – with little relevance to today's competition with China – represent another aspect of the challenge.

Source: Stuff April 01, 2021 22:07 UTC