Industry Insights on
Digital Engineering and
Defense Acquisition
D
igital engineering (DE), as defined by
the U.S. Department of Defense,
is an “integrated digital approach
that uses authoritative sources of
system data and models as a continuum across
disciplines to support life cycle activities from
concept through disposal.”
1
DE can be seen
as automated support to the systems
engineering process.
In 2018, the Air Force announced a new
strategy for using DE in its acquisition life cycle
process. The Digital Engineering Strategy
(which was updated in December 2023)
emphasizes the importance of DE in improving
the efficiency, effectiveness, cost, and quality
of Department of the Air Force (DAF) systems.
It also highlights the need for a common
digital thread that connects all aspects of the
acquisition process and life cycle management of
weapon systems. DAF programs are now being
encouraged to develop DE implementation plans
at their inception.
To date, however, most DE efforts are
in early stages of implementation, so
there has been no empirical analysis of
the extent to which DE is yielding these
benefits for industry and the DAF.
Oce of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems
Engineering, Digital Engineering Strategy, U.S. Department of
Defense, June 2018, p. 3.
RESEARCH BRIEF
