No matter how compelling the need for modern Defense Electronics though, OEMs face major challenges despite an increasingly worrisome threat environment.
For example, politics can disrupt, if not doom, a program at almost any phase due to sharp differences of opinion between influential lawmakers and other policy and decision makers who influence and control the budgeting process.
Economics can be a huge challenge. In the case of Defense Electronics, integrating them into a platform and upgrading them on an as-needed basis — not to mention developing them according to customers’ operational requirements — is costly. The process can throw programs seriously over budget and years behind schedule.
Technology-related challenges represent another gauntlet. Program execution historically has been the Achilles heel of initiatives aimed at fielding new or enhanced technologies across the spectrum of major weapon systems. From start to finish, a high percentage of those that survive end up costing far more than originally estimated and reaching initial operational capability (IOC) late. Acquisition success – meaning delivering overmatch affordably and rapidly – relies on a strong partnership between the Department of Defense and OEMs to be realistic about the nature of the problems to be solved by the systems of systems; history is littered with programs that failed to do so.
No less challenging are vexing and costly supply chain issues. At the heart of the matter is securing electronic components’ long-term availability, as well as alternative parts and sources throughout development, production and sustainability during the aftermarket. Exacerbating this persistent challenge for OEMs is the components supply volatility due to shortages from disasters, trade wars, single source supplier viability, counterfeits and price fluctuations.
“Between customers’ demand for higher performing electronics at less cost and technical advances in electronic components, OEMs are under constant pressure to up their game,” according to Chris Mitchell, Vice President of Global Government Relations at IPC, the global trade association for electronics manufacturing.