Donate

Special ops cracked the code on a problem plaguing the US military: getting better weapons faster

March 4, 2025

By Chris Panella

  • Special operations forces have a fast and flexible weapons acquisition process.
  • It’s critical to keeping operators ahead of the curve on what capabilities are needed.
  • There are lessons for the larger Joint Force and Pentagon, officials said.
US Special Operations Forces know how to get new technologies and weapons to the warfighter quickly, and there are potential lessons in their approach for the broader military.

 

At a recent symposium in Washington, DC, speakers argued that the Pentagon needs to move faster.

“The biggest thing we need to do is really fundamentally change the culture of the Pentagon and Congress,” Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington Democrat and the ranking member of the US House Armed Services Committee, said last month at the National Defense Industrial Association’s US Special Operations Symposium.

“We need to speed up the pace of innovation,” he said.

Special operations forces have flexible acquisition processes which not only bring operators and industry partners together but also encourage adaptations in real time.

At the recent symposium, special operations leadership, other military officials, and industry partners spoke about what works and what doesn’t in acquiring new weapons and capabilities.

SOF’s agile acquisition process means that it’s able to work with industry partners to get its hands on and adjust both hardware and software faster than others. Officials said its approach was a model for how to solve broader issues within the Pentagon.

Read the rest of the article HERE: https://www.businessinsider.com/us-special-operations-forces-has-answer-to-militarys-weapons-problem-2025-3?type=social