§ 4271. Program cost, fielding, and performance goals in planning major defense acquisition programs

• (a)
  • (1) Before funds are obligated for technology development, systems development, or production of a major defense acquisition program, the designated milestone decision authority for the program shall ensure, by establishing the goals described in paragraph (2), that the program will—
    • (A) be affordable;
    • (B) incorporate program planning that anticipates the evolution of capabilities to meet changing threats, technology insertion, and interoperability; and
    • (C) be fielded when needed.
  • (2) The goals described in this paragraph are goals for—
    • (A) the procurement unit cost and sustainment cost (referred to in this section as the “program cost targets”);
    • (B) the date for initial operational capability (referred to in this section as the “fielding target”); and
    • (C) technology maturation, prototyping, and a modular open system approach to evolve system capabilities and improve interoperability.
• (b) In this section:
  • (1) The term “procurement unit cost” has the meaning provided in section 4351(a)(2) of this title .
  • (2) The term “initial capabilities document” has the meaning provided in section 4251(d)(1) of this title .