Evaluation of EF-111A Extended Development and Full-Scale Production Decision

Results of the monitored progress of the EF-111A Tactical Jamming System phased development test program are summarized. In February 1979, the Department of Defense (DOD) decided to initiate a 12-month effort to define and demonstrate corrections for numerous technical/design deficiencies in the system. Due to an urgent need for the EF-111A, the effort was limited to production of six systems in a manner that would reduce the susequent risk of expensive redesign and retrofit. This effort was to be successfully completed before the full-scale production decision.

Program monitoring showed that the Air Force had defined and demonstrated corrections for most of the technical and design deficiencies detrimental to the EF-111A's operability, reliability, and maintainability. As of March 1980, only 4 of the 220 deficiencies identified during initial and follow-on tests remained open. Solutions to some significant performance degradations and answers to questions concerning reliabilty and maintainability of two major subsystems are continuing to be sought. DOD approved full-scale production of the EF-111A in March 1980. The Air Force plans to procure 33 EF-111A's in fiscal years 1981, 1982, and 1983 and to concurrently pursue the second phase of follow-on testing to correct the remaining technical problems. The estimated program cost is $1.3 billion, including about $450 million already spent. The scenario analysis fell short in demonstrating the system's military worth or cost effectiveness that would support spending $1.3 billion for 42 EF-111A's. At this date, a decision to defer further production until operational effectiveness and military worth can be better demonstrated may be too costly. However, terminating the program at this time may be worse than deferral since the system's effectiveness is not yet adequately known.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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