BLUF
Army Directive 2026-19 rescinds Army Directive 2024-02 and makes the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) mandatory for all Army software development efforts, including mixed efforts that include software development. Program managers must consider commercial solutions first, with custom development authorized only when no commercial solution can meet a significant portion of operational needs. The directive also requires rapid-delivery-focused testing and cybersecurity practices, including automated testing and continuous authority to operate (cATO) processes.
SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON
22 JUL 2026
MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2026-19 (Enabling Modern Software Acquisition Practices)
1. References.
See references enclosed.
2. Purpose.
This directive rescinds Army Directive 2024-02 (Enabling Modern Software Development and Acquisition Practices) and replaces it with applicable guidance to rapidly deliver resilient, adaptable, and secure software capabilities pursuant to the referenced authorities.
3. Applicability.
This directive applies to all software acquisition efforts executed by the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve.
4. Background.
With reference 1e, the Secretary of War (SecWar) prioritized the reformation of the Department’s acquisition process to acquire and deliver its weapon and business systems—including software—at speed and scale. The SecWar also directed the adoption of the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the preferred pathway for all software development components of business and weapon system programs, and the use of Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) and other transaction authorities (OTAs) as the default solicitation and award approaches for acquiring capabilities under the SWP. This applies to any software pathway program in the planning phase prior to execution.
5. Policy.
a.
The SWP is mandatory for all software development efforts, including for mixed efforts that include software development. The program manager (PM) will use the SWP as the primary pathway or in conjunction with other pathways. PMs currently using other pathways will transition to the SWP at their next major decision point.
b.
The Army contracting officer will use Army enterprise software contracts, when available for selected vendors, to purchase commercial software that has applicability beyond a single-use case.
c.
The PM will consider commercial solutions first, then configured commercial solutions. Custom development should be extremely rare and will be authorized only when no commercial solution can meet a significant portion of operational needs. PMs will consider leveraging existing Department of War enterprise services when applicable.
d.
Testing and cybersecurity processes will enable, not impede, rapid delivery. Test organizations must leverage automated testing and, when feasible, accept vendor test data and conduct testing in parallel with development. The commanders of Army cybersecurity organizations will implement continuous authority to operate (cATO) processes and accept reciprocity across Army organizations.
6. Proponent.
The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology is the proponent for this policy and will incorporate its provisions, along with implementation guidance, into a new Army regulation within 2 years of the date of this directive.
7. Duration.
This directive is rescinded on publication of the new software regulation.
Encl
Dan Driscoll
DISTRIBUTION:
Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
Commander
- U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command
- U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command
- U.S. Army Materiel Command
- U.S. Army Pacific
- U.S. Army Europe and Africa
- U.S. Army Central
- U.S. Army Special Operations Command
- U.S. Army Transportation Command
- U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
- U.S. Army Cyber Command
- U.S. Army Medical Command
- U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Army Audit Agency
- U.S. Army Military District of Washington
- U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
- U.S. Army Human Resources Command
- U.S. Army Corrections Command
- U.S. Army Reserve Command
Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy
Director, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
Director, U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency
Director, U.S. Army Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office
Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
CF:
Commander, Eighth Army
REFERENCES
Enclosure
a. Title 10, United States Code, section 3458 (Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures)
b. Title 10, United States Code, section 4022 (Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects)
c. Executive Order 14265 (Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base), 9 April 2025
d. Executive Order 14271 (Ensuring Commercial, Cost-effective Solutions in Federal Contracts), 16 April 2025
e. Secretary of War memorandum (Transforming the Defense Acquisition System into the Warfighting Acquisition System To Accelerate Fielding of Urgently Needed Capabilities to Our Warriors), 7 November 2025
f. Secretary of War memorandum (Directing Modern Software Acquisition to Maximize Lethality), 6 March 2025
g. Department of Defense Instruction 5000.87 (Operation of the Software Acquisition Pathway), 2 October 2020
h. Army Directive 2024-02 (Enabling Modern Software Development and Acquisition Practices), 19 December 2024 (hereby superseded)
View Official Army Directive 2026-19 (PDF)
Source: U.S. Army Publishing Directorate (APD)