Low rate initial production
Encyclopedia
Low rate initial production (LRIP) is a term commonly used in military
weapon
projects/programs to designate the phase of initial, small-quantity production
of a weapons systems. The prospective first buyer and operator (i.e., a country's defense authorities and the relevant military units) gets to thoroughly test the weapons system over some protracted amount of time—in order to gain a reasonable degree of confidence as to whether the system actually performs to the agreed-upon requirements before contracts for mass production
are signed.
The term is also applied in fields other than weapons production, most commonly in non-weapon military equipment programs.
The Congressional Budget Office
has found that the United States Department of Defense
rarely achieves projected cost savings because too many programs fail to move from LRIP to full scale production.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
projects/programs to designate the phase of initial, small-quantity production
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
of a weapons systems. The prospective first buyer and operator (i.e., a country's defense authorities and the relevant military units) gets to thoroughly test the weapons system over some protracted amount of time—in order to gain a reasonable degree of confidence as to whether the system actually performs to the agreed-upon requirements before contracts for mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
are signed.
The term is also applied in fields other than weapons production, most commonly in non-weapon military equipment programs.
The Congressional Budget Office
Congressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides economic data to Congress....
has found that the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
rarely achieves projected cost savings because too many programs fail to move from LRIP to full scale production.