How Top Military Contractors Raytheon And BAE Systems Are Drawing Non-Traditional Suppliers Into Defense (From Forbes)

There is concern in the Pentagon that China and Russia are catching up with U.S. warfighting capabilities. Many policymakers are convinced that a solution lies, at least in part, in tapping a wider range of sources for military technology–especially commercial tech companies. Unfortunately, many commercial enterprises lack the resources to deal with the Pentagon’s baroque acquisition system. One way around this problem is to partner with established military contractors who do know how to navigate the acquisition bureaucracy. Raytheon and BAE Systems have both launched efforts to identify promising “dual-use” technologies, particularly from commercial tech startups, that can be brought to bear in providing quick, novel solutions to military challenges. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.