U.S. Comptroller General David Walker was asked by a Congressional committee for his opinions on a range of issues related to defence procurement and contracting. This week, he filed a written response to some of those questsions.
Canada, of course, embarked this year on more than $17-billion in new defence acquisitions of planes, ships, trucks and helicopters and next year, if Cabinet finally gets around to it, Canada could embark on another round of multi-billion dollar spending.
Among the issues Walker addresses is whether or not defence should buy into leading or bleeding-edge technology. Canada doesn't do a lot of that, but there are weapons systems from time to time that are out there on the edge of the available technology that Canada wants to adopt..
Walker says:
“It is essential that technology be developed separately—and before—the development phase of a product or weapon system. This is a best practice that results in predictable program outcomes. Our work shows programs that proceed with mature technology average about 5 percent cost growth; programs with immature technology experience about 35 percent cost growth. Moreover, immature technology delays design and production maturity.”