By Marina Malenic

The military is scrapping its elaborate process for deciding requirements for future weapon systems established under the Bush administration, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said last week.

“It has been gamed to death,” Marine Gen. James Cartwright said of the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System, or JCIDS. “We’re going to throw it away.”

Cartwright was speaking at the annual National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs on April 14.

JCIDS, initiated by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, was designed to make sure the services did not duplicate their efforts by purchasing redundant systems. It was also supposed to make certain that new programs delivered precisely what field commanders needed.

Cartwright, however, said the system has proven counterproductive, having at times prevented fielding of key technologies in a timely manner. He said the Pentagon is creating a new framework that will support a rapid acquisition process for certain types of technology.

The new system would have three tiers based on urgency of need, the general said. The first would be for systems needed urgently and would allow for expedited procurement. The second would be for medium-term needs and would make time for additional development. The third would be for long-term needs, including more expensive and technologically high- risk programs.

“It demands of industry to go out to get the tools that allow us to build a truck in less than 14 years,” Cartwright said.

Further, the J-8 plans and programs directorate of the Joint Staff would oversee the material solutions, while the J-7 would deal with the non-material solutions, he said. J-7 responsibilities would include overseeing training and integration of equipment onto the battlefield.