Managing Acquisition in Defence

How do governments decide what military equipment to buy in an era of soaring costs, disruptive technologies, and shifting global threats? Why do some defence programmes repeatedly overshoot their budgets and timelines?

This course takes you inside the complex world of defence acquisition, exploring the political, economic, and strategic trade-offs that underpin military procurement. Drawing on global research, case studies, and lessons from projects such as the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES), you will develop a critical understanding of how states manage acquisition—and why they sometimes fail.

You’ll examine:

• The fundamentals of defence acquisition, beyond procurement of equipment.

• The dynamics of global defence markets and industrial consolidation.

• The role of risk in defence planning and capability development.

• Organisational and political pressures that shape acquisition outcomes.

• Lessons from the FRES programme and their wider implications.

• How innovation, sustainability, and collaboration are transforming future acquisition.

With a strong focus on both theory and practice, the course highlights the dilemmas governments face when balancing national security, economic priorities, and operational demands. You’ll also grapple with the fundamental question of what “effective” defence acquisition looks like in an unpredictable world.

Led by Professor Matt Uttley and Dr Marc Schelhase, leading experts in defence studies and the political economy of risk, the course blends rigorous academic insight with real-world analysis. Learners benefit from expert commentary, contemporary case material, and analytical frameworks used by practitioners and scholars alike.

By the end of the course, you will be able to analyse acquisition strategies critically, assess the impact of risk and uncertainty, and apply lessons learned to future procurement decisions.

Whether you are a student of politics, international security, or defence studies, a professional working in policy or industry, or simply someone curious about the forces shaping global security, this course will give you the tools to understand and evaluate one of the most pressing challenges of our time.