// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Software Acquisition Pathway
The Software Acquisition Pathway is a specialized, faster process the U.S. Department of Defense uses to buy and develop software, designed to get new programs and updates into use more quickly than traditional methods. It emphasizes rapid development and frequent delivery of software solutions.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) is a Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition pathway specifically established to streamline and accelerate the rapid acquisition, development, and delivery of software-intensive systems by leveraging agile methodologies, rapid prototyping, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) to quickly meet warfighter requirements.
BACKGROUND
The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT) A-salt) is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Army. The office of ASA(ALT) is abbreviated as OASA(ALT), and commonly refers to its leader and sub-offices. OASA(ALT) serves, when delegated, as: the army acquisition executive, the senior procurement executive, the science advisor to the secretary of the Army, and as the senior research and development official for the Department of the Army. The OASA(ALT) also has principal responsibility for all Department of the Army matters related to logistics.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- DoD SWP
- Software Pathway
- Agile Software Acquisition
- Rapid Software Delivery
- Software Acquisition Process
USAGE NOTE
This pathway is essential for fielding modern military capabilities that depend on frequently updated software, such as C2 systems and AI applications, by circumventing the slower traditional hardware acquisition processes.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Software Acquisition Pathway.
A leading global security and aerospace company, Lockheed Martin is a prime defense contractor that continually develops and integrates software for complex military systems. They are actively evolving their internal software development processes and tools to align with the DoD's Software Acquisition Pathway, emphasizing agile methodologies, DevSecOps, and rapid iteration for faster, more secure software delivery.
RTX develops advanced software solutions for air defense, missile systems, and command & control. They invest heavily in modern software engineering practices, including agile development and DevSecOps, to meet the accelerated delivery and iterative improvement demands of the DoD's Software Acquisition Pathway.
As a major defense contractor, Northrop Grumman provides extensive software development for aerospace, defense, and cyber security programs. They are adapting their software delivery models to embrace the principles of the Software Acquisition Pathway, focusing on speed, agility, and continuous integration/delivery to rapidly field capabilities.
Palantir provides sophisticated data integration and analysis software platforms to government and defense agencies. Their approach to iterative software development and rapid deployment of capabilities to users is inherently aligned with the goals of the Software Acquisition Pathway, offering a commercial model for accelerated software delivery.
A prominent government consultant and systems integrator, Booz Allen Hamilton helps DoD agencies implement and optimize modern software development and acquisition practices. They develop custom tools, frameworks, and methodologies, often leveraging DevSecOps and cloud-native solutions, that directly support the objectives and implementation of the Software Acquisition Pathway.
As a DoD organization, DIU accelerates the adoption of commercial technology for military use. While not a traditional 'developer,' DIU actively facilitates the development and integration of cutting-edge software solutions from commercial companies, effectively demonstrating and enabling faster, more agile acquisition and deployment models that inform and advance the Software Acquisition Pathway.
Microsoft, through its Azure Government cloud platform, provides secure and compliant cloud computing services essential for modern military software development. They develop and offer cloud-native tools and services that enable DevSecOps, agile practices, and rapid deployment, which are critical enablers for organizations operating under the Software Acquisition Pathway.
AWS provides a comprehensive suite of cloud services tailored for government and defense, including a strong focus on security and compliance. Their platforms enable agile software development, continuous integration/delivery pipelines, and scalable infrastructure, directly supporting the rapid iteration and deployment goals central to the DoD's Software Acquisition Pathway.