The graphic above illustrates the history of attempts at modernizing, streamlining, and evading the standard military procurement system over the period of the last 20 years. It comes from this post at the Center for a New American Security proposing ways of exploiting our technological superiority for strategic advantage which I encourage you to read.
A major problem is that really harnessing modern technology means decentralizing and that will be opposed bitterly by people whose livelihoods and futures depend on centralization.
The history of the National Reconnaissance Office is a good cautionary tail.