Improved Acquisition Processes for Safety-Critical Systems in the Australian Department of Defence

This paper describes recently developed policy and procedures for safety management during system acquisition within the Australian government’s Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). The thrust of the safety policy is that: all systems are considered safety-critical until shown otherwise; and any project acquiring or upgrading a system involving safety-critical elements is required to establish a System Safety Program during acquisition, and to deliver a Safety Case prior to acceptance into service. The policy is spelled out in detail, and recommended acquisition procedures are described.