# DoD Analyzes Acquisition Risks in Missile Defense

The Department of Defense is applying lessons from the Army's canceled Future Combat Systems program to its Golden Dome missile defense acquisition, emphasizing the need for independent oversight and structured risk management to address technical and integration challenges in complex defense systems. U.S. Navy officers advocate for a standing non-advocate review board empowered to enforce cost and performance thresholds before program milestones, highlighting the importance of decisive program management to mitigate risks such as dropping components that fail to meet scalability and cost targets.

- Procurement professionals should note the increased focus on independent, preemptive program reviews to manage acquisition risks in large defense contracts
- This approach signals potential changes in contract oversight and milestone gating that could affect vendor performance evaluations and contract award criteria
- Contractors involved in missile defense and space-based interceptors may face stricter cost and scalability requirements, impacting proposal strategies and risk assessments
- Agencies and industry stakeholders can leverage these insights to improve acquisition planning, risk mitigation frameworks, and compliance with evolving DoD oversight expectations

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 29, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Army
- Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
- Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
- U.S. Space Force

### Key Quotes
> The remedy is a standing non-advocate review, chartered before the final gate, with cost and performance thresholds fixed in advance, and empowered to fail the gate outright.
> — Andrew Tenbusch, U.S. Navy officer

> The program director’s testimony that space-based interceptors would be dropped if cost and scalability targets are not met matters more than it may appear.
> — Trevor Phillips-Levine, U.S. Navy officer

### Sources
- [The Unhedgeable Bet: What the Future Combat Systems Can Teach Us About Acquisition](https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/the-unhedgeable-bet-what-the-future-combat-systems-can-teach-us-about-acquisition) - War on the Rocks