Joint Systems Architecture Development

The Joint Systems Architecture Development (JSAD) program, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD A&S), is designed to enhance the Department's ability to analyze, manage, and inform acquisition and resourcing decisions across platform and weapon portfolios. The program's primary objective is to deliver the best equipment and systems to the warfighter by leveraging capability portfolio management (CPM) and supporting acquisition reform initiatives. JSAD is structured around two main focus areas: Portfolio Systems Acquisition (PSA) and Electromagnetic Warfare (EW), each with distinct goals and responsibilities.

Portfolio Systems Acquisition (PSA) is focused on supporting air, land, sea, and undersea warfare programs and munitions, with a particular emphasis on Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) and integrated portfolio management. The PSA line item aims to provide integrated acquisition portfolio analysis, develop acquisition roadmaps, and offer acquisition decision support. These efforts are intended to guide the development and fielding of integrated acquisition systems, ensuring joint mission capabilities across operational domains to counter global threats.

In recent years, PSA has led and completed Integrated Area Portfolio Assessments (IAPRs) and provided senior-level recommendations for key programs. PSA has also supported foreign military sales and security assistance, offering acquisition, production, and industrial base recommendations. The program continues to advance CPM practices, support mission engineering principles, and identify opportunities for cost savings by reducing duplication and finding synergies across portfolios.

For FY 2026, PSA plans to continue leading Integrated Acquisition Portfolio Reviews and supporting Joint Staff Capability Portfolio Management Reviews. The program will maintain its focus on updating roadmaps for critical areas such as future vertical lift, unmanned systems, ground vehicles, weapons/munitions, and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). PSA will also provide analytical support for ground combat, naval warfare, air warfare, and nuclear triad modernization, while responding to inquiries from Congress, the Government Accountability Office, and the DoD Inspector General.

Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) supports the Department's priorities for Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), including homeland defense and strategic deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. The EW line item is focused on advancing capabilities that transition directly to the warfighter and aligns with international cooperative efforts, such as the AUKUS Pillar II EW working group. The program is responsible for analyzing Department EW capability gaps, supporting cross-Service collaboration, and developing operational requirements for Airborne Electromagnetic Attack solutions.

Recent accomplishments within EW include completing analyses of Counter-C5ISR capabilities, conducting operational assessments, and supporting demonstrations of EW materiel solutions across the Army and Navy. The program has also advanced international partnerships and performed directed energy capabilities analysis. For FY 2026, EW will continue mission engineering analyses, integrate EW effects into critical mission threads, and support DOTMLPF-P initiatives to enhance the Department's EW strategy. The program will also provide acquisition expertise in the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System and respond to congressional and DoD requests for information.

The JSAD program element is designed to foster enterprise-wide approaches to acquisition, emphasizing horizontal integration, interagency collaboration, and governance reforms. By shifting from systems acquisition to portfolio systems acquisition, JSAD aims to maximize the effectiveness of defense investments, improve interoperability, and ensure the rapid deployment of advanced capabilities to meet evolving national security challenges.