Section 2438, added Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VIII, § 821(a)(1)(B), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2459; amended Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, § 904(d)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1728, required competitive prototyping of major weapon systems and subsystems prior to development under major defense acquisition program.

Provisions similar to those in section 2438 were contained in section 2365 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–484, § 821(c)(1).

A prior section 2438 was renumbered section 2439 of this title.

Section 2439, added Pub. L. 99–145, title IX, § 912(a)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 685, § 2305a; amended Pub. L. 99–433, title I, § 110(g)(3), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1004; renumbered § 2438 and amended Pub. L. 100–26, § 7(b)(9)(A), (k)(2), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 280, 284; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title VIII, § 805, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1591; renumbered § 2439, Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VIII, § 821(a)(1)(A), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2459, directed Secretary of Defense, before full-scale development under major program began, to prepare acquisition strategy which ensured that contracts for each major program, including each major subsystem under program, were awarded in accordance with acquisition strategy, and granted Secretary option of using competitive alternative sources for major programs and major subsystems throughout period.