[LINK] Buying defence by the month

[Tom Worthington]

On 6/10/23 23:29, Stephen Loosley wrote:
> Lockheed CEO Pitches Pentagon on Subscription Software By: John Grady  October 4, 2023
> https://news.usni.org/2023/10/04/lockheed-ceo-pitches-pentagon-on-subscription-software
> 
> ... Traditionally, the Defense Department and defense industry think in big contracts for platforms that take years to design, build and manufacture and service.

The difference is that if an App doesn't work, it is an inconvenience. 
If software vital to your mission is not working, people can end up 
dead. For that reason software can take years to design and test.

As an example, Canberra company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is shipping 
its "Slinger" counter-drone system to Ukraine. This is a computer 
controlled cannon. If the software goes wrong, the consequences would be 
serious. 
https://blog.tomw.net.au/2023/10/canberra-counter-drone-system-for.html

> In particular, the Navy is moving away from the contractor-led maintenance model that prevents sailors from servicing equipment on ships. ...

Navies, including the US, routinely use civilian contractors to provide 
maintenance, supplies and some services. Some of these contractors are 
on the military ships, in other cases ships are crewed by civilians, 
with just a few military personnel on board. The Australian Navy calls 
these "Australian Defence Vessels" (ADV). 
https://the-riotact.com/defence-adds-to-its-growing-fleet-of-civilian-ships/653298

have
-- 
Tom Worthington, http://www.tomw.net.au