Abstract

Arming America is a comprehensive analysis of how the USA acquires major weapons and other military systems for national defense. It provides a deep understanding of why defense acquisition seems so problematical, with many weapons programs experiencing cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls. In explaining the sources and manifestations of these problems, Arming America covers a wide range of topics, including acquisition’s stakeholders – Congress, industry, and the Department of Defense (DOD) – and the complex managerial, political, and legal environments in which they operate. Making sense of the often-convoluted relationships among these stakeholders in such an environment is daunting, but Ron Fox meets the challenge with a classic work that remains highly relevant in almost every important aspect.