Characteristics of Large-Scale Defense Projects and the Dominance of Software and Software Project Management

Abstract

Countries spend billions of dollars and use a significant amount of resources on large-scale defense system projects. Many reports indicate that large-scale defense systems are among the most challenging and risky projects. One reason can be attributed to the increasing use of software in defense systems. Today, large-scale defense systems are mainly composed of software. For example, 90% of the functions in an F-35 fighter aircraft are achieved via software. Software development is inherently challenging even without the defense context. Investigating solutions to these challenges should first start with identification of characteristics of large-scale defense system projects. In addition, as the use of software increases in defense systems, defense project management is actually becoming software project management. Consequently, defense project managers should know about software project management as well to be successful in their projects. In this chapter, we first identify the characteristics of large-scale defense systems. Then, we list the characteristics of large-scale defense projects. We also emphasize and discuss the influence of software in defense projects and how defense project management is, in fact, becoming software project management.