Army Acquisition Official Says Multiyear Procurement Unsuited for Drones

Doug Bush, the U.S. Army’s assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology, has warned against a multiyear procurement strategy for unmanned systems, citing the technology’s rapid development pace.

Typically utilized to acquire munitions, such an approach would allow defense suppliers to ramp up production based on longer-term demand, C4ISRNET reported.

Bush, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker and Wash100 winner, said during a briefing on the Army’s fiscal year 2025 spending plans that a multiyear procurement strategy would entail committing to one vendor, potentially shutting out innovative offerings from new companies.

Demand for technology can fluctuate month to month, he added. Bush explained that the Army’s priorities could change from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in one year and strike in the next.

Bush’s comments come months after drone manufacturer Skydio announced its advancement to the final phase of the Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 program. The service branch aims to secure small unmanned aerial system capabilities for surveillance.