Selecting Weapons Systems 1960---The Builder's-Eye View

Caught by converging budgetary and technical constraints, weapons systems builders have discovered they cannot afford to pursue so many of the technically attractive potential new systems. They must ascertain which of these potential new systems will, in fact, evolve into operational systems. To do this, they have espoused operations-research methods and set about trying to select the potential systems which will meet three key conditions, that is systems which will answer a valid mission requirement and be economically and technically feasible, all in the future operational frame of reference. From experience gained in this selection process so far, the builders find that operations research needs to develop in certain directions if it is to meet their requirements. Looking ahead from this standpoint, it appears that the representative product of operations research increasingly may be the “white paper” on a broad issue, the general description of a broad problem such as ground warfare, the analysis of a broad concept or objective such as deterrence Interpretation will be emphasized at the expense of technical razzle dazzle. Significant negative findings will be disclosed more conscientiously.