Pentagon shifts weapons buying to speed | JQJO

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled an overhaul of Pentagon purchasing, shifting from bespoke, slow programs to gear that can be built and fielded fast. Calling for a wartime footing, he said an 85 percent solution in a year beats a perfect system that arrives late, pointing to the MRAP as the pace to match. A July memo also eased drone buying rules amid Ukraine's drone heavy war. The plan steers work to more innovative firms and streamlines foreign arms sales. Sen. Roger Wicker praised it; analyst Todd Harrison warned of reduced transparency and systems that may underperform.