Case analysis of the U.S. Army Warfighting Rapid Acquisition Program: Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle -- Enhanced weapon system

Abstract

With the Department of Defense's budget continuing to be reduced, Army acquisition managers must acquire superior weapon systems within shorter time periods with less resources, One effective way to accomplish this with relatively small, urgently needed acquisition programs is through the Army's Warfighting Rapid Acquisition Program (WRAP). This thesis uses a case study of the Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle-Enhanced (BSFV-E) air defense system to determine the impact of the WRAP upon accelerated acquisition. WRAP transitions compelling US Army Training and Doctrine Command Battle Lab successes into rapid acquisition successes. Lessons learned from the BSFV-E case are identified which might be used by other acquisition managers to effectively manage programs which emerge as Battle Lab experimentation successes and are approved for rapid acquisition through the WRAP process. One lesson learned is that BSFV-E's streamlined acquisition process permitted a significant reduction in the administrative and procedural requirements which typically burden systems development. Also, this case study identified that lack of funding for WRAP programs such as the BSFV-E can potentially transform a rapid acquisition effort into a business-as-usual program. This study concludes that the BSFV-E is an excellent acquisition streamlining role model.