Page 138 - 2018 Defense White Paper

and other elements of a project, the MND will diversify R&D and purchasing methods—for

example, through the development of international cooperation systems and the adoption of
the fast-track purchase program—as well as R&D models that take into account the types of
weapons systems such as military vessels and software.

The MND also plans to systematize the interim project evaluation so that requirements and
the total cost of a project can be reviewed and modif ied in the middle stage of development, and
improve the contract program into a f lexible program suitable for evolutionary acquisition 12)

to launch a project management program that can manage performance, costs, and schedule
step-by-step.
Furthermore, the MND will lay the foundation for ef f icient project execution by revising the

Defense Acquisition Program Act and relevant regulations. The DAPA’s technical and repetitive
tasks, such as cost accounting and standard document management, will be contracted out, and
the agency will undergo reorganization to have a project management–focused structure, and
thus, boost ef f iciency and transparency.

4. Strengthening Defense R&D Capabilities

| Enhancing the Defense R&D Execution System | The MND and the DAPA are innovating
the defense R&D system to implement the concept of responsible defense and effectively prepare

for future wars, where advanced technologies will dictate the patterns of war fare.
The current characteristic of defense R&D can be def ined as a “pursuit type” focused on
developing technologies necessary for the weapons systems for which the requirements have

already been determined. The MND will improve the defense R&D system to allow for the
development of creative and challenging technology where the Fourth Industrial Revolution and
cutting-edge new technology guide and create the requirements for weapons systems. To achieve

12) An advanced acquisition concept of developing usable systems relatively quickly through the time-phased
filings of requirements and the addition of the latest advanced technologies to the systems in increments,
instead of developing a perfect system over a long period. The concept is divided into the incremental
development and spiral development approaches.

136 Chapter 4 Building Elite Armed Forces Using Advanced Technology