PRODUCT SUPPORT
Product Support— Vital to Warfghter Success by LISA P. SMITH Tis issue of Defense Acquisition magazine focuses on Product Support. It has been more than a decade since an issue of the magazine was ded - icated to the support of our weapon systems, subsystems, components, and the Product Support package that sustains them. A great deal has changed in Life Cycle Logistics and Product Support since then, and the articles in this issue address many of the ways we maintain weapon sys - tem readiness in today’s challenging global environment. Transformation Strategy announced in December 2025. What is meant by “Product Sup - port (PS)”? The United States Code defines PS as: “… the package of sup - port functions required to field and maintain the readiness and opera - tional capability of covered systems, subsystems, and components, includ - ing all functions related to covered system readiness.” However, the term is not limited to covered systems. It is used broadly across the department, as well as in industry and internationally, to ad - dress how we develop, deliver, and maintain weapon system readiness. The 12 support functions that fol - low are those activities associated with the Product Support elements, Most importantly, the articles address some of the ways Product Support is meeting the Secretary of War’s priorities of restoring the war - rior ethos, specifically reemphasizing combat readiness; rebuilding military capabilities; and enhancing national deterrence through the Acquisition
collectively referred to as the Inte - grated Product Support (IPS) Ele - ments: 1. Product Support management 2. Design interface 3. Sustaining engineering 4. Maintenance planning and man- agement 5. Supply support 6. Support equipment 7. Technical data 8. Training and training support 9. Information technology systems continuous support 10. Facilities and infrastructure 11. Packaging, handling, storage, and transportation 12. Manpower and personnel
6 DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE | JANUARY FEBRUARY 2026 –
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