SAN DIEGO – For greater than 30 years, Normal Atomics Aeronautical Programs, Inc. (GA-ASI) has invented, innovated and delivered disruptive new protection applied sciences in help of the USA and its allies, redefining the way forward for international safety within the course of. This place because the world chief in unmanned aerial methods provides us distinctive insights into the coverage and regulatory challenges America faces when adopting revolutionary new capabilities and applied sciences.
We stay a vocal advocate for reform inside the U.S. protection acquisition system and help current requires concepts and engagement on the subject. To additional this dialogue, GA-ASI just lately submitted a letter to the brand new Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) outlining a number of steps we imagine to be instrumental in reformation efforts.
A duplicate of that letter is supplied beneath, to generate further public dialogue on the present state of operations and the trail ahead.
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24 January 2025
Expensive Mr. Musk,
That is an thrilling time in Washington, DC and throughout the nation. Normal Atomics Aeronautical Programs (GA-ASI), the chief in unmanned aerial methods, is keen to work with the DOGE on the essential activity of reforming protection acquisition to boost its effectivity and contribution to nationwide safety. GA-ASI, an trade upstart and disruptor, led the world within the design and improvement of unmanned aerial automobiles, and touched off a revolution in army affairs. All of this was completed regardless of important friction and resistance from the institution. We proceed to really feel this resistance as we search to interrupt new floor with applied sciences that may make sure the U.S. and allied forces preserve a decisive operational edge in an more and more harmful world.
We suggest to use our many years of expertise with protection acquisition to deal with the insurance policies, procedures, and organizational oddities that hinder well timed supply of vital capabilities to warfighters. Inside GA-ASI’s personal export market, poor US Authorities (USG) coverage and sluggish bureaucratic decision-making has opened the door for rivals like China, Turkey, and Israel to win essential worldwide clients. Gross sales misplaced to those rivals whereas we waited on some USG motion means much less funding out there for re-investment into R&D and modernized manufacturing infrastructure.
Daring management is required. Previous reform efforts, typically supervised by the very organizations most in want of reform, have failed. DOGE has the potential to drive significant change, and we’re prepared to assist the place we will.
As you seek for efficiencies inside the USG’s protection acquisition system, let me flag a number of areas that deserve particular consideration. We will present extra detailed descriptions and proposals upon request.
- Delays: Use out there authorities to expedite acquisitions, prioritizing warfighter wants over obsession with course of. Particular guidelines and processes exist to hurry acquisition. However they aren’t used steadily sufficient and are sometimes modified over time to evolve with normal, slower processes. The USG may speed up bigger system acquisitions just by setting cut-off dates on DoD milestones to make sure that the interval between “necessities definition” and “preliminary working functionality” (IOC) doesn’t exceed 5 years.
- Buck-passing: Set up accountability inside the U.S. International Army Gross sales (FMS) system, by which execution is fragmented throughout the Division of State, a number of DoD companies, and the army providers, with none of them in a position to direct the others. No one is in the end accountable for reaching or failing to attain the administration’s strategic aims associated to promoting protection articles to allies. Accountability may be achieved by way of clear traces of authority and accountability, cut-off dates for decision-making, and a contemporary IT system to trace the distribution and expenditure of billions of {dollars} (solely funded by international clients) within the US FMS administrative fund account.
- Self-shackling: Reform the U.S. interpretation of the Missile Know-how Management Regime (MTCR) to give attention to missile expertise tied to weapons of mass destruction slightly than UAS. Right this moment, the antiquated MTCR interpretation ties the USG’s arms even on simple export applications which get pleasure from bipartisan help. We must always counter the unfair market benefits gained by international suppliers not topic to self-imposed MTCR limitations. Additional, we should objectively steadiness the prioritization of expertise safety with that of arming allies and companions (utilizing their very own cash!) for future conflicts and elevated burden-sharing.
We sit up for collaborating with you in your essential new position.
Sincerely,
Linden Blue
Chief Govt Officer
Normal Atomics Aeronautical Programs Inc.
About GA-ASI
Normal Atomics Aeronautical Programs, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of Normal Atomics, is a number one designer and producer of confirmed, dependable RPA methods, radars, and electro-optic and associated mission methods, together with the Predator® RPA sequence and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With greater than eight million flight hours, GA-ASI offers long-endurance, mission-capable plane with built-in sensor and knowledge hyperlink methods required to ship persistent situational consciousness. The corporate additionally produces quite a lot of sensor management/picture evaluation software program, gives pilot coaching and help providers, and develops meta-material antennas.
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