DAPA Rapid Acquisition Project Ultimately Becomes a 'Delayed Project'

More than Half of Selected Projects Fail to Deliver Within 6 Months... "Selection Must Be Careful"

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Rapid Demonstration Acquisition Project implemented by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has turned into a 'delayed project.' The Rapid Demonstration Acquisition Project was initiated with the purpose of reducing the military's weapon procurement procedures to quickly operationalize advanced weapons, but more than half of the selected projects have failed to meet delivery deadlines.

According to the military on the 2nd, DAPA introduced the Rapid Demonstration Acquisition Project in 2020. Companies selected for the rapid demonstration project must deliver their products to the military within six months after signing the contract. Up to this year, 30 projects have been selected under this program. However, 16 projects have failed to produce and deliver weapons to the military within six months.

Among the undelivered weapons, the next-generation high-speed boat is expected by DAPA to take more than 12 months due to the high difficulty of the manufacturing process. The hybrid field water purification equipment that inspects radioactive contaminated water and the autonomous navigation-based mine clearance device are in the same situation. Additionally, suicide drones and small reconnaissance strike composite drones have failed to meet performance standards and have not been delivered to the military.

Although weapons should be tested and introduced through the rapid acquisition project, the military sometimes refuses to accept them. Among 12 weapons selected for the rapid acquisition project, five, including vertical takeoff and landing drones for coastal surveillance and thermal imaging dot composite aiming devices, were rejected by the military for operational deployment. An industry insider said, “DAPA pushed forward with a policy without considering the feasibility of delivery from the project selection stage,” adding, “Policies should be implemented with fairness and practicality in mind.”