COMPARISON OF DEFENSE ACQUISITION EFFICIENCY IN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA
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Authors
Fiorelli, Eliza P.
Subjects
strategic competition
techno-security state
defense acquisition
defense industrial base
acquisition efficiency
United States
China
cost
schedule
performance
innovation
F-35
J-20
DDG 51
Luyang III
long-range hypersonic weapon
DF-26
techno-security state
defense acquisition
defense industrial base
acquisition efficiency
United States
China
cost
schedule
performance
innovation
F-35
J-20
DDG 51
Luyang III
long-range hypersonic weapon
DF-26
Advisors
Jones, Raymond D.
Seagren, Chad W.
Date of Issue
2025-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Since the 1950s, China has pursued economic and military dominance, leveraging alliances, intellectual property theft, and rapid technological advancements to strengthen its defense capabilities. Meanwhile, the United States has faced defense industrial base consolidation, bureaucratic stagnation, and prolonged conflicts in the Middle East, challenging its ability to maintain a technological edge. If current trends persist, China could surpass the United States in defense acquisitions. This thesis evaluates whether China is more efficient than the United States in defense acquisition and identifies areas where U.S. acquisition efficiency can improve, regardless of comparison. Using a framework developed in a Naval Postgraduate School thesis, this thesis assigns efficiency scores to both countries across ten acquisition categories. A hypothetical weighting scenario examines how acquisition efficiency might shift in the event of an imminent U.S.-China conflict. Findings indicate that the United States remains more efficient overall, but China outperforms in cost efficiency. Areas in which the United States can improve include cost, acquisition workforce, resource allocation, and the defense industrial base. By addressing these inefficiencies, the United States can strengthen its defense acquisition system and sustain its technological advantage in an evolving strategic landscape.
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Thesis
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Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.