This podcast argues for a fundamental shift in how the US Department of Defense (DoD) acquires Special Missions Aircraft (SMA). It contends that the traditional approach of developing “clean-sheet” aircraft is too slow and costly for modern defense needs, advocating instead for the accelerated conversion of existing civilian “green” aircraft. This strategy, which involves installing specialised systems like avionics and sensors onto commercial platforms, is presented as a more agile, cost-effective, and rapidly deployable solution. The podcast stresses the need to apply principles like Design for Excellence (DFX) and supply chain optimization to further speed up the integration process and align with current military demands for efficiency and expediency.