System Acquisition mainly refers to DoD Acquisition Process and as often referred to as a mission agency. Analyzing and describing how the Department of Defense (DoD) makes purchases, reference is often made to the Defense Acquisition System or System Acquisition.
The term System Acquisition implies much more than just the purchase of an item or service. The acquisition process encompasses analysis, design, engineering, construction, testing, deployment, sustainment, support and disposal of systems or related items purchased from a contractor or a group of contractors. There are three steps that a system must go through before it can be used. These steps are identifying a need, establishing a budget, and acquiring the system. These processes are formally referred to as: The Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) which is the process used for identifying warfighter requirements, The Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System (PPBE) used for allocating resources and budgeting, and Finally, The Defense Acquisition System (DAS) for developing and/or buying an item
