The nominee said the cycle time from the start of a program to initial operational capability averages between eight and nine years, meaning a weapons system, once operational, is already a generation behind the latest advances in the civilian sector.

"This problem must be addressed," said Rumsfeld, and "simply tinkering with the present acquisition system will not provide the innovation and speed necessary to satisfy future military needs."

While providing few details on what kind of new acquisition system would be built, Rumsfeld said it should take advantage of modern U.S. industrial practices and commercially created information technology.

He told the Senate committee this effort will require more money for the Defense Department (DoD) in the near term but is expected to eventually lower the cost of new weapons systems for U.S. forces. Rumsfeld did not say how much more money it will require to build a new procurement process.

In general, however, the nominee said that as defense secretary, he will press for more money for defense spending that will include developing a missile defense system, assuring current readiness and sustainability for U.S. forces, and modernizing command and control systems, as well as developing the intelligence and space capabilities the United States needs in order to conduct operations in the new security environment of the 21st century.

Rumsfeld also said he wants to transform the Pentagon organizational structure and "shed unneeded organizations and facilities" that impose "an unacceptable burden on the national defense."