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Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§3041 Major system

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART V— - ACQUISITION › Subpart Subpart A— - General › Chapter CHAPTER 201— - DEFINITIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - DEFINITIONS RELATING TO MAJOR SYSTEMS AND MAJOR DEFENSE ACQUISITION PROGRAMS › § 3041

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Says when a system must be treated as a "major system." A major system is a group of parts that work together to do a mission. Parts can be hardware, equipment, software, or a mix. It does not include building construction or other work on real property. A system is major if the cost tests below apply or if the agency head declares it so. For the Department of Defense, a system is major if estimated research, development, test, and evaluation costs exceed $275,000,000 or estimated procurement costs exceed $1,300,000,000 (both in fiscal year 2024 constant dollars). The Secretary of Defense can change those amounts under section 4202(b) of this title. For civilian agencies, a system is major if estimated total costs exceed $2,000,000 (FY2024 constant dollars) or the agency’s threshold set under Office of Management and Budget Circular A–109.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §3041

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this part (other than in section 4292(e) and 4321), the term “major system” means a combination of elements that will function together to produce the capabilities required to fulfill a mission need. The elements may include hardware, equipment, software or any combination thereof, but excludes construction or other improvements to real property.
(b)A system shall be considered a major system if—
(1)the conditions of subsection (c) or (d), as applicable, are satisfied; or
(2)the system is designated a “major system” by the head of the agency responsible for the system.
(c)(1)For purposes of subsection (b), a system for which the Department of Defense is responsible shall be considered a major system if—
(A)the total expenditures for research, development, test, and evaluation for the system are estimated to be more than $275,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars); or
(B)the eventual total expenditure for procurement for the system is estimated to be more than $1,300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars).
(2)Authority for the Secretary of Defense to adjust amounts and the base fiscal year in effect under this subsection is provided in section 4202(b) of this title.
(d)For purposes of subsection (b), a system for which a civilian agency is responsible shall be considered a major system if total expenditures for the system are estimated to exceed the greater of—
(1)$2,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars); or
(2)the dollar threshold for a “major system” established by the agency pursuant to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A–109, entitled “Major Systems Acquisitions”.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification The text of par. (5) of section 2302 of this title, which was transferred to this section, redesignated as subsecs. (a) and (b), and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, § 1806(c)(2), was based on Pub. L. 98–525, title XII, § 1211, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2589; Pub. L. 100–26, § 7(k)(2), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 284; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VIII, § 805(a)(1), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2605. The text of subsecs. (a) and (b) of section 2302d of this title, which were transferred to this section, redesignated as subsecs. (c) and (d), respectively, and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, § 1806(c)(3), was based on Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VIII, § 805(a)(2), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2605; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, § 1073(a)(41), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1902.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1804(a)(1)(A), substituted “$275,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars)” for “$115,000,000 (based on fiscal year 1990 constant dollars)”. Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1804(a)(1)(B), substituted “$1,300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars)” for “$540,000,000 (based on fiscal year 1990 constant dollars)”. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1804(a)(2), substituted “$2,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2024 constant dollars)” for “$750,000 (based on fiscal year 1980 constant dollars)”. 2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1806(c)(2)(A), redesignated par. (5) of section 2302 of this title as subsec. (a) of this section, realigned margin, inserted heading, and substituted “In this part (other than in section 4292(e) and 4321), the term” for “The term”. Former third sentence of subsec. (a) designated (b). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1806(c)(2)(B), (C), after transfer of section 2302(5) of this title to subsec. (a) of this section, designated third sentence of subsec. (a) as (b), inserted heading, and substituted “system if—” and pars. (1) and (2) for “system if (A) the conditions of section 2302d of this title are satisfied, or (B) the system is designated a ‘major system’ by the head of the agency responsible for the system.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1806(c)(3), redesignated subsec. (a) of section 2302d of this title as subsec. (c) of this section, substituted “subsection (b)” for “section 2302(5) of this title” in introductory provisions, designated existing provisions as par. (1) and inserted heading, redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, and added par. (2). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1806(c)(3), redesignated subsec. (b) of section 2302d of this title as subsec. (d) of this section and substituted “subsection (b)” for “section 2302(5) of this title” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as an

Effective Date

of 2021 Amendment note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 3041

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73