Defense Acquisition Research Articles

Microbe-Friendly Plants Enable Beneficial Interactions with Soil Rhizosphere Bacteria by Lowering Their Defense Responses.

The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria presents a promising addition to conventional mineral fertilizer use and an alternative strategy for sustainable agricultural crop production. However, genotypic variations in the plant host may result in variability of the beneficial effects from these plant-microbe interactions. This study examined growth promotion effects of commercial vegetable crop cultivars of tomato, cucumber and broccoli following application with five rhizosphere bacteria. Biochemical assays revealed that the bacterial strains used possess several nutrient acquisition traits that benefit plants, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, biofilm formation, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. However, different host cultivars displayed genotype-specific responses from the inoculations, resulting in significant (p < 0.05) plant growth promotion in some cultivars but insignificant (p > 0.05) or no growth promotion in others. Gene expression profiling in tomato cultivars revealed that these cultivar-specific phenotypes are reflected in differential expressions of defense and nutrient acquisition genes, suggesting that plants can be categorized into "microbe-friendly" cultivars (with little or no defense responses against beneficial microbes) and "microbe-hostile" cultivars (with strong defense responses). These results validate the notion that "microbe-friendly" (positive interaction with rhizosphere microbes) should be considered an important trait in breeding programs when developing new cultivars which could result in improved crop yields.

Brexit 이후의 영국 공공조달법제 연구

Korea's public procurement legal system is composed of various laws, including 「Act on Contracts in which the State is a Party」, 「Act on Contracts in which the Local Government is a Party」, 「Act on the Government Procurement Program」, 「Act on the Management of Public Institutions」, 「Act on Facilitation of Purchase of Small and Medium Enterprise-manufactured Products and Support for Development of Their Markets」, 「Defense Acquisition Program Act」, and the relationship among them is not systematically established. In order to address this issue, the enactment of the 「Act on Public Procurement (Draft)」 is being discussed. This article examines the 「Procurement Act of 2023」 in the United Kingdom, which enacted a single statute by integrating various regulations related to public procurement in each field after Brexit, in order to find implications for reforming Korea's public procurement law system. The 「Procurement Act of 2023」 in the UK presents Value For Money as the most important principle of public procurement, and to materialize it, it introduces ‘flexible competitive procedure’ as a new contracting method and ‘most advantageous tender (MAT)’ as a new award criteria. In addition, in order to ensure the effective operation of this flexible contracting system, there are regulations on securing transparency throughout the entire life cycle of the procurement, including the sharing of contract information. The 「Procurement Act of 2023」 in the UK provides the following implications for the reform of Korea's public procurement legal system. First, it is necessary to find the common principles in each sector procurement, and to legislate it into an Act. Second, it is necessary to establish the principles of public procurement, including value for money and the principle of proportionality. Third, it is necessary to prioritize and implement public procurement across government through a comprehensive public procurement plan, and in particular, to systematize the existing preferential procurement system. Fourth, it is necessary to improve contracting methods and award criteria that can realize value for money, and the collection and utilization of contract-related information is important for the proper operation of these new system.

O PAPEL DAS COMPRAS PÚBLICAS EM DEFESA COMO O NOVO VETOR DE DESENVOLVIMENTO NACIONAL

This article discusses the importance of the defense industry as a driver of innovation and economic growth in the country. With the intensification of geopolitical challenges and the need to modernize the Armed Forces, Brazil has invested in acquisitions that encourage research and technological development. The proposed research analyzes how these strategic public purchases can not only strengthen military capacity, but also stimulate national industry, generating skilled jobs and promoting technology transfer. Collaboration between the government and the private sector is essential to maximize the benefits of these acquisitions, allowing technological advances to have a positive impact on various sectors such as health, energy and transport. In addition, these defense acquisitions can serve as an industrial policy tool, guiding investments in priority areas and contributing to the country's strategic autonomy. In this context, the research aims to demonstrate how defense acquisitions and orders are an essential vector for economic and technological development, with the potential to transform industrial capacity and national competitiveness in a global scenario.

A panel data regression model for defense merger and acquisition activity

PurposeThis paper examines the relationship between a prime contractor's financial health and its mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) spending in the defense industry. It aims to provide models that give the United States Department of Defense (DoD) indications of future M&amp;A activity, informing decision-makers and contributing to ensuring competitive markets that benefit the consumer.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses panel data regression models on 40 companies between 1985 and 2021. The company's financial health is assessed using industry-standard financial ratios (i.e. measures of profitability, efficiency, solvency and liquidity) while controlling for economic factors such as national productivity, defense budgets and firm size.FindingsThe results show a significant relationship between efficiency and M&amp;A spending, indicating that companies with lower efficiency tend to spend more on M&amp;As. However, there was no significant relationship between M&amp;A spending and a company's profitability or solvency. These results were consistent with previous research and the study's hypotheses for profitability and solvency. However, the effect of liquidity was the opposite of the expected result, possibly due to the defense industry's different view on liquidity compared to previous research.Originality/valueThe paper provides insights into the relationship between a prime contractor's financial health and its M&amp;A spending, a topic with limited research. The findings can inform policymakers and regulators on the industrial base's future M&amp;A activity, ensuring competitive markets that benefit the consumer.

From Dependency to Autonomy: Revamping the Defense Acquisition

From Dependency to Autonomy: Revamping the Defense Acquisition

Truly Modular and Open System Design is Difficult

AbstractIn the United States, major defense acquisition programs must implement a modular open systems approach (MOSA) as required by U.S. law. (Defense Standardization Program, 2016). Some in the defense community have focused on MOSA as a checklist compliance activity. However, designing economically and operationally competitive system platforms that are truly modular is extremely challenging. Many such modular system platform efforts fail to meet early expectations for convenience, cost, and community uptake. Open standards are challenging as well. If a highly successful, stable, well‐documented, appropriate open standard is available for an interface, then leveraging such a standard can be fairly straightforward. However, often there is no obvious or adequate open standard available and the system platform owners have to organize a community to bring such a standard into existence.This paper will review three concrete examples of such MOSA efforts. The three cases cover both commercial and defense applications as well as covering both hardware and software. The two systems that focused on hardware modularity did eventually go into production but did not completely fulfill early expectations for their programs. The software system used an out‐of‐the‐box approach and achieved a best‐in‐class result in terms of economic effectiveness, time to market, and stakeholder satisfaction. This paper will discuss underlying challenges that seem to be common to all such efforts, review the results of the three cases, and offer some simple guidelines for increasing the probability of success for such a program.

Selection of unmanned aerial vehicle systems for border monitoring using the MPSI-SPOTIS method

PurposeThe present paper assesses the decision problem of selecting Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (SARP) by the hybrid MPSI-SPOTIS approach for deployment in border control and transborder illicit combat.Design/methodology/approachBy the hybrid MCDA MPSI-SPOTIS approach, and from the database available in Gettinger (2019), models were filtered by Endurance, Range, Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW), and Payload, fitting within the classification of Categories EB 0 and 2. Category EB 1 was not considered in this study due to the limited number of models in the data source.FindingsThe use of the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool MPSI-SPOTIS allowed the determination of weights by stochastic criteria, applied in a ranking method resistant to reverse ordering. The application of the method identified the Raybird-3 (Cat EB 0) and Searcher (Mk3) (Cat EB 2) models as the best alternatives. From a proposed clustering, other selection possibilities with close performance in the evaluation were presented. The cost criterion was not taken into consideration due to the absence of information in the data source employed. Future studies are suggested to include criteria related to the life cycle and acquisition cost of the models.Research limitations/implicationsThe cost criterion was not taken into consideration due to the absence of information in the data source used. Future studies are suggested to include criteria related to the life cycle and acquisition cost of the models.Originality/valueThis paper aims to propose a technology selection method applied to complex defense acquisitions when multiple factors influence the decision makers and it is hard to obtain a major optimum solution in multitask and multi-mission platform.

A structured process for the fuzzy front-end of complex projects

The front-end stage of projects, which covers the period from inception through to project approval, is not well understood in the literature and is considered ‘fuzzy’. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to develop a structured process for the project front-end stage of complex projects. In this study, the rigorous and protracted front-end process followed by Australian Defence acquisition and development projects is analysed. Findings propose a front-end process that consists of the following four steps: (1) project trigger identification, (2) project idea generation, (3) business case development, and (4) business case appraisal. We further detail the activities included in each step and propose practical implications for operations managers and the organisation. By structuring the front-end process, our research contributes to the operations management literature by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and activities in the management of the front-end of complex projects and their alignment with the operations’ environment.

Defense Industrial Base: Acquisition Program Case History

This Defense Industrial Base case history encourages critical analysis of a DoD project manager responding to typical management oversight questions regarding industrial base planning within defense acquisition. The analysis centers on the capability and capacity of the defense industrial base to develop and produce body armor for Warfighters. The case incorporates the perspectives from key stakeholders to include commercial industry companies, congressional committees, DoD senior leadership, and the program management/acquisition chain of command. Considerations include the balancing of limited resources against competing priorities, sustaining inventory for wartime readiness, managing the demand for increased capability, and balancing surge requirements with industry capacity. The case history reinforces critical thinking in uncertain environments, documents lessons learned for sound project management, and provides exposure to the complexities of public sector acquisition and manufacture of critical warfighting products.

From the Editors: How to Get Your Manuscript Published

Research publication is often challenging for emerging authors, but necessary for them to introduce their research, contribute to the conversation in their field, and advance their field of study. In this article, editors of Defense Acquisition Research Journal (Defense ARJ) offer advice to defense acquisition professionals aspiring to publish in Defense ARJ and point out some caveats in the research publishing process. The editors also explain what kind of papers the journal publishes and summarize how to produce a strong submission. This article discusses Defense ARJ’s guidelines for contributors in more

Physics-anchored masked autoencoder for efficient sonogram simulation

We present a technique for efficiently creating sonogram such as LOFAR and DEMON, by combining physical acoustic modeling and data-driven method of masked autoencoder. This technique involves two stages. First, in the given the ocean environment, the physical model accurately calculates a restricted portion of entire sonogram image. Next, the data-driven model based on masked autoencoder creates an image of remaining region. By employing an iterative decoding structure and controlling the weight of the physical loss term, the reconstruction accuracy of masked autoencoder is improved. The results are compared with those of a pure physical model, a hybrid model with original masked autoencoder, and a hybrid model with traditional PCA technique. We will discuss the practicality of the proposed technique in terms of accuracy and calculation performance, as well as the applicablity of real data using Deepship dataset. [Work supported by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement (KRIT) grant funded by the Korea government (Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)) (No. KRIT-CT-22-052, Physics-guided Intelligent Sonar Signal Detection Research Laboratory).]

Extraction of comprehensive feature for active target detection using two hand-crafted acoustic features

We propose a model for creating a new feature suitable for classifying targets and non-targets using a small active sonar data. The proposed model extracts a comprehensive feature from two different hand-crafted features using deep-learning (DL). To extract comprehensive feature, we contrived a complementary learning module (CLM), which consists of two stages. In the first stage, a transformer encoder was adopted to reinforce the input features and then complementarily learned through attention mechanism in the following stage. The output features from the CLM are passed through a shallow CNN to classify targets and non-targets. In addition, an uncertainty quantification method is proposed using two CLMs to quickly add new samples acquired in the real ocean dataset. Using the decisions from two CLMs, we calculate the variance and determine which samples from the entire dataset are worthy of prioritized addition. Two real-ocean datasets were used to examine the model generalization and compare the classification results with conventional DL models. The generalization performance of the proposed model was comparable or superior to other DL models and uncertainty quantificaion method improved the generalization performance. [Work supported by Korea Research Institute for defense Technology planning and advancement(KRIT)—Grant funded by the Korea government (DAPA—Defense Acquisition Program Administration) (No. KRIT-CT-23-026, Integrated Underwater Surveillance Research Center for Adapting Future Technologies, 2024)]

GHOST target suppression for distributed multi-array localization using temporal and spatial correlations

We propose a ghost target suppression method for distributed multi-array localization. Triangulation, included in bearings-only target localization method for the well-separated array, is highly dependent on bearing measurements. Its performance is degraded by ghost targets from the ambiguity of bearing measurements. The proposed method is based on the assumption that received signals from the same target have similar frequency components within short-term time and at different locations. We utilize the consistency of acoustic signals in Frequency-Azimuth plots by measuring the frequency component similarities of the target signal over time at a single array (temporal information) and across different arrays (spatial information). The ghost target suppression is evaluated using in situ data from Swellex-96 S5 Event and results reveal the target track along time with much less ghost targets. [Work supported by Korea Research Institute for defense Technology planning and advancement(KRIT)—Grant funded by the Korea government(DAPA(Defense Acquisition Program Administration))(No. KRIT-CT-23-026, Integrated Underwater Surveillance Research Center for Adapting Future Technologies, 2024).]

Test and Evaluation Procedures of Defense AI System linked to the ROK Defense Acquisition System

Test and Evaluation Procedures of Defense AI System linked to the ROK Defense Acquisition System

Revisiting Large Scale Defence Acquisition: Uncertainty and Acquisition Responsiveness

AbstractThis article re‐examines the model for large‐scale defence acquisition, aiming to establish a more adaptable framework that can effectively navigate the uncertainties of a dynamic and evolving operational environment. Drawing upon principles derived from Beer's Viable System Model (VSM), coupled with software engineering concepts from DevOps and innovation frameworks, the article proposes the development of a preliminary acquisition framework. The primary objective of this endeavour is to refine the framework, facilitating the creation of naval platforms that possess enhanced future‐proofing capabilities. Simultaneously, the aim is to minimize the time gap between significant acquisition decisions and achieving initial operating capability, all while upholding the fundamental requisites of the prevailing acquisition frameworks. Considering the extended operational lifespan of valuable assets, which can exceed two decades, there is a discernible risk that naval resources might become obsolete due to technological advancements driven by evolving adversarial threats. To counteract this potential scenario, it becomes imperative to regard naval acquisition as a continuous process, necessitating ongoing evolution and timely updates that align with the swiftly changing environmental conditions. This article asserts the significance of embracing a future‐proofing mindset. Such an approach holds the potential to curtail expenses associated with the swift and cost‐effective implementation of new capabilities as we advance into the future.

Effects of metal amendment and metalloid supplementation on foliar defences are plant accession-specific in the hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri.

Soil pollution by metals and metalloids as a consequence of anthropogenic industrialisation exerts a seriously damaging impact on ecosystems. However, certain plant species, termed hyperaccumulators, are able to accumulate extraordinarily high concentrations of these metal(loid)s in their aboveground tissues. Such hyperaccumulation of metal(loid)s is known to act as a defence against various antagonists, such as herbivores and pathogens. We investigated the influences of metal(loid)s on potential defence traits, such as foliar elemental, organic and mechanical defences, in the hyperaccumulator plant species Arabidopsis halleri (Brassicaceae) by artificially amending the soil with common metallic pollutants, namely cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn). Additionally, unamended and metal-amended soils were supplemented with the metalloid silicon (Si) to study whether Si could alleviate metal excess. Individuals originating from one non-/low- and two moderately to highly metal-contaminated sites with different metal concentrations (hereafter called accessions) were grown for eight weeks in a full-factorial design under standardised conditions. There were significant interactive effects of metal amendment and Si supplementation on foliar concentrations of certain elements (Zn, Si, aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), potassium (K) and sulfur (S), but these were accession-specific. Profiles of glucosinolates, characteristic organic defences of Brassicaceae, were distinct among accessions, and the composition was affected by soil metal amendment. Moreover, plants grown on metal-amended soil contained lower concentrations of total glucosinolates in one of the accessions, which suggests a potential trade-off between inorganic defence acquisition and biosynthesis of organic defence. The density of foliar trichomes, as a proxy for the first layer of mechanical defence, was also influenced by metal amendment and/or Si supplementation in an accession-dependent manner. Our study highlights the importance of examining the effects of co-occurring metal(loid)s in soil on various foliar defence traits in different accessions of a hyperaccumulating species.

Cost Overrun Optimism: Fact of Fiction?

Program managers are advocates by necessity. When taken to the extreme, program advocacy can result in the suppression of adverse information about the status of a program. Such was the case in the Navy’s A-12 program. In “A-12 Administrative Inquiry,” Beach (1990) speculates that such “abiding cultural problems” were not unique to the Navy. To test that assertion, this article examines cost overrun data on 64 completed acquisition contracts extracted from the Defense Acquisition Executive Summary database. Cost overruns at various contract completion points are compared with projected final cost overruns estimated by contractor and government personnel. The comparison shows that the overruns projected by the contractor and government were excessively optimistic throughout the lives of the contracts examined. These results were found insensitive to contract type (cost, price), contract phase (development, production), the type of weapon system (air, ground, sea), and the military service (Air Force, Army, Navy) that managed the contract.

국방획득체계에서의 지속적 기술 최신화 전략 : 기술의 진부화 장벽을 넘어

국방획득체계에서의 지속적 기술 최신화 전략 : 기술의 진부화 장벽을 넘어

Qualification of Compressor Impeller for Aero-Engine Application

This paper presents the approach for qualification of indigenously developed compressor impeller for aero engine application. Indigenisation is understood to be the most important tool for effective technical empowerment of a developing nation. Indigenisation philosophy is adopted by several countries in various fields such as power, infrastructure, aerospace, military equipments and etc. Indigenous development fills the technical, financial and time frame gap between imports and ab-initio design and development. Hence, for a healthy technical growth of any developing nation, Indigenous development activities should go along with ab-initio design activities. Indigenous development has become an integral process of activities of Defence sectors due to its potential benefits. Indian defence imports stands at staggering 65 % of the total defence acquisition. In order to make the best use of indigenization opportunities in the defence sector, conservative figures would suggest an amount more than 100,000 crores. This gives an indication of the potential and benefits of indigenous development in defence sectors.&#x0D; In this paper a methodology for indigenous development of a military turboshaft engine compressor impeller is discussed. This activity has enabled uninterrupted supply of the component and a substantial Foreign Exchange savings. This paper specifies the various tests conducted over the forging. It also brings out the results of cyclic spin test on the component for 22500 cycles as life substantiation, 15% and 22% over speed test as structural integrity substantiation and 150 hours type test on engine for quality and assembly substantiation.&#x0D; This indigenous development procedure described in this paper can be readily extended to suitable critical aero engine component.

방위사업법에서의 부당이득금 환수제도 개선방안

A defense project contract has a number of different characteristics from a general national contract, such as a large amount of capital is invested and a long period of time from request to delivery. In the course of the implementation of the defense project contract, the contract partner's breach of contract and illegal acts appear in various forms. The act of earning profit by submitting false or other illegal cost calculation data is an act that undermines the principle of good faith and is subject to the return of unjust profit. However, although the principle on the recovery of unjust enrichment is stipulated in the Defense Acquisition Program Act, there is no clear regulation on detailed calculation methods or standards, so it is necessary to clarify the legal nature of unjust profit, specify the subject and scope, and establish clear standards for the calculation method. First of all, it is reasonable to view that the right to claim the return of unjust enrichment corresponds to the right to claim compensation for damages caused by default, and the legal nature of the additional charges is a penalty for breach of contract. However, since it is stipulated differently from the legal purpose of the recovering system for unjust enrichment, it is necessary to prevent confusion by amending the relevant provisions to compensate for the damages corresponding to the unjust enrichment. In addition, although the current regulation stipulates the recovery of unjust enrichment, there is no regulation on the calculation method of unjust enrichment, so there is room for dispute over this, so it is necessary to specify that the difference between the contract amount and the settlement cost is the unjust enrichment. On the other hand, according to the current Defense Acquisition Program Act, it is stipulated that unjust enrichment and additional charges be recovered simultaneously, but there is no regulation on exemption from additional charges. Even in the case of imposing an additional charge, it is necessary to ensure specific validity by imposing an additional charge of an amount smaller than the amount of unjust enrichment.