PRODUCT SUPPORT
support falters, the entire sustain - ment system is compromised. Product support is a command- er’s responsibility. Commanders must own decisions on activating commercial capabilities, prioritizing sustainment functions, and managing risks. Delegation risks fragmentation and vulnerability. Product support is a contested space. Contracts, cybersecurity, di - versified supply routes, and joint ex - ercises with industry must be delib - erately planned to ensure that they are resilient. Industry readiness requires up- front investment. Surge capability and resilience depend on preposi - tioned agreements, integrated plan - ning, and scalable contracts estab - lished before crisis. Operational resilience is real- ized as stronger industry partner - ships expand capacity, innovation, and agility. Collaboration ensures that there is access to advanced tech - nologies and supply chains critical for contested operations. Conclusion Product support is not just impor - tant; it is the backbone that keeps the Joint Force prepared to engage in contested environments and sus - tain combat power. As reliance on commercial partners grows, their unique scale, expertise, and resil - ience become indispensable. PRE - SCIENT OX revealed that these part - ners are intricately woven into the sustainment fabric, serving as a vital thread in the network that enables global operations. The invaluable lessons learned will pave the way for PRESCIENT OX II in Fiscal Year 2026 in the U.S. Eu - ropean Command (USEUCOM) future
Col. Nathan Aysta, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, tours and engages with Staff. Sgt. Jacob Ruzyn- ski, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron electrical power production specialist, about the arresting armament system capabilities during a day-in-the-life briefing within the U.S. Central Command area of respon- sibility, Dec. 29, 2025. A pendant cable aircraft arresting system is a flight line safety measure that stops fighter aircraft during landing, protecting pilots while minimizing airframe damage and supporting future repair and return-to-flight capability. Source: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tylin Rust
risk sharing to ensure that industry capacity remains viable under threat.
1. Speed of response—commercial partners can adapt to meet evolv - ing support requirements. 2. Reliability in contested environ - ments—commercial partners can sustain operations under disrup - tion or degraded conditions. 3. Integration before crisis—it is es - sential to include commercial partners in both planning and re- hearsal activities ahead of any crisis. 4. Protections in place—it is essential to ensure contractor safety and mission assurance when con- ditions deteriorate. These considerations are not sup - plementary; they are fundamental to the essence of product support. If any of them falters, the sustainment system will be severely compromised. Strategic Themes PRESCIENT OX illuminated the following five overarching strategic imperatives: Sustaining combat power re- quires commercial product sup- port. Combat power depends on maintenance, spares, fuel, distribu - tion, and IT systems. If commercial
Increased Integration Into Military Planning
The TTX emphasized that com - mercial support must be integrated before crisis onset. Too often, indus - try is engaged reactively. The Trans - formation Strategy calls for institu - tionalizing commercial participation in wargames, exercises, and sustain - ment planning, ensuring that desig - nated roles and responsibilities are clear in advance. Commercial support can only be delivered if adequately protected. Contractors lack the authority to defend themselves, making them high-value targets. The Transfor - mation Strategy underscores that commanders must treat contractor safety as mission assurance. Protect - ing contracted forces ensures conti - nuity of sustainment functions such as fuel, life support, transportation, and maintenance. PRESCIENT OX demonstrated that commercial partners are not just con - tracted extras; they are integral to the product support system. Contractors who operate on bases, drivers who transport fuel, and companies that manage logistics IT systems are em - bedded in the support architecture. The TTX revealed four critical factors that underpin the effectiveness of this support architecture in times of crisis:
Product support is not just important; it is the backbone that keeps the Joint Force prepared ... .
34 DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE | JANUARY FEBRUARY 2026 –
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