Planned Procurement Quantities for F-15 and F-14 Are in Excess of Needs

GAO pointed out in October 1977 that the planned procurement quantitities for F-14 and F-15 combat aircraft for training purposes, peacetime attrition, and replacements for aircraft undergoing overhaul, were in excess of needs. The services used inconsistent and imprecise criteria to forecast needs for support aircraft, which could be reduced with tighter management controls and closer scrutiny of data. F-14 and F-15 needs were overstated by 178 aircraft, estimated to cost about $2.5 billion, and GAO recommended that need estimates be based on more realistic data. Department of Defense (DOD) acknowledged the report, but did not respond to its conclusions and recommendations; it did agree, however, that programs must be based on realistic and supportable data, and indicated that a special review of support aircraft needs was underway and that changes in procurement objectives would be made as warranted. Following up on the GAO report, the Defense Audit Service found that F-14 and F-15 aircraft needs were overstated in the categories mentioned by about 111 airplanes. The Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation said that DOD was studying means of computing needs for aircraft to support combat squadrons. Both GAO and the Defense Audit Service findings showed that procurements are excessive. Since few F-14s and F-15s remain to be funded by Congress, steps should be taken immediately to reduce the number to be procured.