Pentagon Technology Plans And The Illusion Of A Free Ride (From Forbes)

President Obama’s Pentagon team has rolled out a Defense Innovation Initiative that proposes to preserve the joint force’s edge in military technology by, among other things, relying more on commercial breakthroughs.  The logic of turning to “non-traditional” suppliers is remarkably similar to that invoked by the Clinton Administration two decades ago, and springs from much the same source: the illusion that the Pentagon can stay ahead without investing vigorously in new technology.  The Obama Administration talks a good game about investment, but at least when it comes to the military, its record is mainly one of consumption.  It is using up the weapons it inherited at a much faster pace than they are being replaced.  The notion that Silicon Valley can rescue the joint force from obsolescence in the absence of higher funding for military technology is unrealistic and dangerous.  I have written a commentary for Forbes here.