SAN DIEGO – For greater than 30 years, Normal Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc. (GA-ASI) has invented, innovated and delivered disruptive new protection applied sciences in help of america and its allies, redefining the way forward for international safety within the course of. This place because the world chief in unmanned aerial programs provides us distinctive insights into the coverage and regulatory challenges America faces when adopting revolutionary new capabilities and applied sciences.
We stay a vocal advocate for reform throughout the U.S. protection acquisition system and help latest requires concepts and engagement on the subject. To additional this dialogue, GA-ASI lately submitted a letter to the brand new Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) outlining a number of steps we imagine to be instrumental in reformation efforts.
A duplicate of that letter is offered beneath, to generate further public dialogue on the present state of operations and the trail ahead.
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24 January 2025
Pricey Mr. Musk,
That is an thrilling time in Washington, DC and throughout the nation. Normal Atomics Aeronautical Methods (GA-ASI), the chief in unmanned aerial programs, is keen to work with the DOGE on the necessary job of reforming protection acquisition to reinforce its effectivity and contribution to nationwide safety. GA-ASI, an business upstart and disruptor, led the world within the design and improvement of unmanned aerial automobiles, and touched off a revolution in navy affairs. All of this was achieved regardless of vital friction and resistance from the institution. We proceed to really feel this resistance as we search to interrupt new floor with applied sciences that can make sure the U.S. and allied forces keep a decisive operational edge in an more and more harmful world.
We suggest to use our a long time of expertise with protection acquisition to deal with the insurance policies, procedures, and organizational oddities that hinder well timed supply of important capabilities to warfighters. Inside GA-ASI’s personal export market, poor US Authorities (USG) coverage and sluggish bureaucratic decision-making has opened the door for rivals like China, Turkey, and Israel to win necessary worldwide clients. Gross sales misplaced to those rivals whereas we waited on some USG motion means much less funding accessible for re-investment into R&D and modernized manufacturing infrastructure.
Daring management is required. Previous reform efforts, usually supervised by the very organizations most in want of reform, have failed. DOGE has the potential to drive significant change, and we’re prepared to assist the place we are able to.
As you seek for efficiencies throughout the USG’s protection acquisition system, let me flag just a few areas that deserve particular consideration. We will present extra detailed descriptions and suggestions upon request.
- Delays: Use accessible authorities to expedite acquisitions, prioritizing warfighter wants over obsession with course of. Particular guidelines and processes exist to hurry acquisition. However they aren’t used continuously sufficient and are sometimes modified over time to evolve with commonplace, slower processes. The USG might speed up bigger system acquisitions just by setting deadlines on DoD milestones to make sure that the interval between “necessities definition” and “preliminary working functionality” (IOC) doesn’t exceed 5 years.
- Buck-passing: Set up accountability throughout the U.S. International Navy Gross sales (FMS) system, wherein execution is fragmented throughout the Division of State, a number of DoD businesses, and the navy providers, with none of them in a position to direct the others. No person is in the end accountable for reaching or failing to realize the administration’s strategic aims associated to promoting protection articles to allies. Accountability may be achieved by clear strains of authority and duty, deadlines for decision-making, and a contemporary IT system to trace the distribution and expenditure of billions of {dollars} (totally funded by international clients) within the US FMS administrative fund account.
- Self-shackling: Reform the U.S. interpretation of the Missile Expertise Management Regime (MTCR) to give attention to missile know-how tied to weapons of mass destruction quite than UAS. At the moment, the antiquated MTCR interpretation ties the USG’s arms even on easy export packages which take pleasure in bipartisan help. We should always counter the unfair market benefits gained by international suppliers not topic to self-imposed MTCR limitations. Additional, we should objectively stability the prioritization of know-how safety with that of arming allies and companions (utilizing their very own cash!) for future conflicts and elevated burden-sharing.
We look ahead to collaborating with you in your necessary new function.
Sincerely,
Linden Blue
Chief Government Officer
Normal Atomics Aeronautical Methods Inc.
About GA-ASI
Normal Atomics Aeronautical Methods, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of Normal Atomics, is a number one designer and producer of confirmed, dependable RPA programs, radars, and electro-optic and associated mission programs, together with the Predator® RPA collection and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With greater than eight million flight hours, GA-ASI supplies long-endurance, mission-capable plane with built-in sensor and knowledge hyperlink programs required to ship persistent situational consciousness. The corporate additionally produces quite a lot of sensor management/picture evaluation software program, presents pilot coaching and help providers, and develops meta-material antennas.
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