- The Department of War is undergoing its most ambitious acquisition reform in 60 years, reorganizing into Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) to speed delivery, but risks buying systems for yesterday's problems without proper front-end problem definition.
- The Innovation Targeting Cycle—consisting of Detect, Define, Develop, Deploy, Assess, Distribute phases—is proposed to replace rigid requirements processes like JCDIS, enabling rapid 70% solutions fielded in weeks and continuously improved via operational feedback.
- Lessons from Counter-IED efforts (costly, slow, and outpaced by adversary adaptation) apply directly to Counter-UAS, highlighting the need for forward-deployed problem discovery teams, fusion cells, rapid assessment, and lateral distribution at operational speed.
- April 22–23 in Silicon Valley, PAEs and COCOMs will discuss and prototype Innovation Targeting concepts, including 'technical terrain walks' to quickly identify, validate, and onboard commercial technology.