The Atlantic Council’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare released its final report on March 27, 2025. The report highlights the challenges the US faces in the current global security environment. The United States finds itself in a profoundly transformed global security environment, presenting its most significant geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges since the Cold War,” the report states.
It points to a new “axis of aggressors” – China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – that are increasingly collaborating to challenge global stability. The report also notes domestic constraints, such as flat defense budgets, military recruitment shortfalls, and complex acquisition processes, that limit the US’s ability to address these threats effectively. It contrasts the US’s industrial strength during World War II with today’s inadequate defense production capacity.
China’s focus on software-defined technologies, including AI, cloud computing, and DevSecOps, has significantly advanced its defense capabilities. The US defense acquisition system, based on an outdated model, cannot keep up with modern technological innovations, putting the nation at risk.
Modernizing defense software acquisition today
The commission recommends modernizing defense acquisition, enhancing industrial capacity, prioritizing talent and training, and strengthening international partnerships to address these challenges. It calls for decisive action to prepare the US military to adapt quickly to evolving global conditions and safeguard national security. To leverage the technological advantage of America’s economy, the report suggests the US military needs a “software literate” workforce that can effectively interact with technology contractors, rather than just coders.
It also recommends establishing an “enterprise data repository” to compile data collected by different military services and agencies for analysis and AI training. The report emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the commitment of the new administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent directive calls for all DOD components to adopt the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) for streamlining software purchases and avoiding the traditional lengthy process of identifying requirements.
While the commission aims to build on previous studies and recommendations, it stresses the importance of actionable, realistic reforms rather than just seeking funding or creating new organizations. The goal is to modernize the US military’s approach to software acquisition and deployment to maintain its technological edge in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
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