Pentagon Urged to Treat Operational Feedback and Software Innovation as Strategic Assets

The Pentagon is being advised to view operational feedback and software innovation as critical strategic resources in its efforts to modernize the defense acquisition system. According to a new report by Barak Seener, an associate research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, the U.S. military can learn valuable lessons from recent conflicts involving Israel and Ukraine.

Seener's analysis emphasizes that the Pentagon should treat operational feedback as a strategic asset, similar to how the Israeli Defense Forces utilize real-time battlefield data to inform their tactical decisions. This approach would enable the American military to adapt more swiftly to evolving combat scenarios. Additionally, Seener highlights the importance of decentralization and commercial innovation, strategies employed by Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

The report also argues that future warfare will increasingly rely on software-defined capabilities rather than traditional hardware-centric approaches. As such, acquisition models must treat software as a continuously developing resource rather than a static product. This shift is crucial for maintaining military superiority in an era where technological advancements occur at breakneck speed.

Acknowledging the reforms initiated by the Pentagon since 2025, Seener notes that the current challenge lies not just in accelerating the pace of acquisition but also in aligning authority and responsibility within a unified decision-making framework. The introduction of portfolio acquisition executives is seen as an important step towards achieving this goal, yet their effectiveness will depend on their ability to wield genuine authority over requirements, resources, and program termination.

In interviews, Seener underscores how militaries are leveraging rapid adaptation to outmaneuver expensive, decade-long development projects like the F-35 fighter jet. He points to Ukraine's success in countering Russian forces with mass deployments of less sophisticated but more adaptable technologies. Similarly, the use of drones and other advanced systems by groups such as the Houthis demonstrates how smaller-scale innovations can have significant battlefield impacts.

Seener also highlights the rapid evolution of technology compared to traditional defense acquisition timelines. This disparity leaves newly developed platforms potentially obsolete before they are even deployed due to the rapidly changing nature of warfare. To address this, Seener recommends that the Pentagon tap into commercially available technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and data analytics to enhance its flexibility and responsiveness.

Furthermore, Seener critiques existing systems for their failure to achieve strategic impact in conflicts like those with Iran. Despite initial successes in disrupting command structures through rapid strikes, these efforts did not produce lasting changes or strategic advantages. This underscores the need for a more agile and adaptive approach to defense acquisitions that can keep pace with evolving threats.

In summary, Seener's report advocates for a comprehensive overhaul of the Pentagon’s acquisition system, emphasizing the critical importance of integrating operational feedback, embracing software innovation, and leveraging commercial technologies to maintain military superiority in an era of rapid technological change.