Improving U.S. Military Capacity: Innovation, and Prototype Development

by Emanuel Leutze
Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851

The need for faster innovation and prototyping in industry and the military is becoming increasingly important. This is why we should explore innovative economic systems designed to raise the level military development as well as raise the emerging product offerings private industry stakeholders. Government is often slower at adapting then industry so its important to ensure there is a win-win incentive for both the military and industry codevelopers. 

You can read the following article to understand the "Valley of Death" problem. Keep in mind that putting stakeholders together in the right environment might shorten developmental time frames and in turn be more lucrative for participating businesses. I mean hypothetically if all of the components were put together in a way in which different economic contributors support the others within a cluster to create synergy once momentum is started. 

 'Expanding rapid prototyping is only a first step toward fixing the Defense acquisition system'

While the technology might be similar they can be developed at some point into two different lines of products. For example, a new propulsion system might move into military capacity but some aspects of it might move into industry development to ensure that the U.S. companies are staying on top  of the market (There should be some guarantee by participating industries that they don't share the tech with our rivals.)

That all starts with developing and testing the first proto-type that if successful moves to larger scale production. That is where economic innovative systems do their magic. They create an innovative environment where multiple industries can share, collaborate, and build. The Federal and private investment dollars help steer co-development of technology to the most practical ends that solve military and industry problems. 

Excellent depth and description of the process in 'The Importance of Early Prototyping in Defense Research, Engineering, Acquisition, and Sustainment'