Pentagon Faces a New Enemy: Its Own Systems

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The global defence landscape is shifting towards increasingly unpredictable directions. Threats no longer come in conventional forms but through rapidly evolving technology, drones, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems. Amid these changes, the United States faces a fundamental question: can the Pentagon adapt at the pace of the times?

An article by Chris Beauregard in DefenseScoop offers sharp criticism from within the defence ecosystem itself. He begins with a simple yet provocative premise: functionally, the Pentagon is no different from a large multinational conglomerate.

However, according to Beauregard, the difference lies not in what is done, but in how it is done. This is where the main problem arises: the Pentagon views its needs as unique and therefore builds its own systems, often at enormous costs.

As a result, many internal software systems become productivity blockers. Compared to private sector solutions that are faster, cheaper, and more intuitive, the Pentagon’s internal systems are seen as far behind.

Beauregard highlights several concrete examples: billion-dollar software projects that fail to meet basic user needs. From human resources systems to official travel platforms, the ballooning costs are not commensurate with the results obtained.

This criticism points to one clear solution: the Pentagon must stop building from scratch and start adopting a “buy before build” approach. In Beauregard’s view, commercial software, especially AI-based, is already mature enough to meet most operational needs.

This approach is not only about efficiency but also about speed. In an era where technology develops exponentially, even a few years’ delay can mean losing strategic advantage.

Meanwhile, a Reuters report provides a more external but equally sharp perspective. In one of its reports, defence industry players openly criticise the Pentagon’s bureaucracy as the main obstacle in responding to global threats.

According to the report, the complexity of contract systems and procurement processes slows innovation. Even when technology is available, its implementation is often delayed by layered procedures.