Balancing Structure and Flexibility: Evaluating Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid Methodologies in Aerospace and Defense Projects

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid methodologies in aerospace and defense projects, using the SILA (Sustainment Integration for Legacy Aircraft) system as a case study. The findings demonstrate that a hybrid approach—which blends the structured governance of Waterfall with the iterative adaptability of Agile—offers a viable path for managing complex sustainment projects, balancing regulatory compliance with operational agility.