ABSTRACT
Research and development (R&D) lies at the heart of the defense “iron triangle.” Over 60 percent of all Federal funding for R & D is spent on aerospace and defense programs sponsored by DoD, NASA, and the Department of Energy. The close collaboration between DoD, NASA and the defense industry in R & D is a significant element in perpetuating this concentration. Long before most members of Congress or the general public become aware of weapons development or changes in strategic policies, new weapons and missions are being defined by the two Federal agencies and the specialists in the industry. The access of the company to R & D funds is achieved not only through the transfer of personnel, but also through corporate membership on Federal advisory committees and trade associations. The intimacy between the public and the private sector is to some extent inevitable and not always damaging to the public interest.
