Obsolescence Management in the Military

Obsolescence can be something of a dirty word, where it implies that manufactured materials are designed to fail. In fact, planned obsolescence (such as might be designed into a domestic appliance) is just one aspect of this complex subject, which also includes both technical and functional obsolescence. In our ever-advancing world of technology, it is an unfortunate fact that much technological material is obsolete even before it is put in place, and before it ever has time to become functionally obsolete. This situation has given rise to the concept of Obsolescence Management, which is a process so detailed in itself that it now falls under an international standard of governance, IEC 62402:2019.

Obsolete products are those which may still be functional, but are technically out of date and no longer listed in the manufacturer's catalogue. Obsolescent products are those which are likely to become obsolete in the near future, sometimes even before they are commissioned. In the military environment, this problem becomes more critical. Military equipment is expensive and intended for a long life, but in effect many of its contributory elements may be superseded even before the production phase. In addition, military standards are far more stringent than those required for commercial products, so the monitoring and management of potentially obsolete equipment is crucial.