Abstract: Technical risk is the very important risk for weapon system developmen t (WSD), and it always exists in the process of WSD. Technical risk is the chief factor that brings cost risk, schedule risk and performance risk. Controlling a nd managing technical risk in the process of WSD are very important and necessar y. On the basis of systematically reviewing the main literature for technical ri sk of WSD, the research scopes of the technical risk management are analyzed and summarized in this paper, which include the concept and the meaning of technica l risk, the management process of technical risk, as well as the approaches to t echnical risk identification and assessment. Further research directions of the approaches to technical risk identification and the quantitative appraisement mo dels for technical risk are also pointed out.