Costs and Benefits of a Common Strategic Rotary Launcher Should Be Reassessed Before Further Funds Are Available

Gao ID: MASAD-83-3 November 15, 1982

GAO reviewed the issues concerning the program cost, operational advantages, program concurrency, and management coordination of Air Force plans to acquire a multipurpose common strategic rotary launcher (CSRL) for the B-52H, B-1B, and advanced technology bombers.

GAO found that, in approving the CSRL program, the Air Force has not canceled plans to develop a unique air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) launcher for the B-1B which the CSRL is supposed to replace. Air Force and Department of Defense officials said that only one ALCM launcher will be acquired for the B-1B. However, if the CSRL is not to be acquired for the B-1B, then it is unlikely that it will be acquired at all, since commonality across the bomber force would not be achieved. GAO believes that, in this case, standardization would not clearly reduce life-cycle costs or result in technical advantages. Current cost estimates support the acquisition of several unique launchers rather than a CSRL both in terms of acquisition and life-cycle costs and needed capabilities for bomber launchers. GAO believes that continuing both the CSRL and the ALCM programs would result in unnecessary duplication of effort and cost.

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.

Director: Robert M. Gilroy Team: General Accounting Office: Mission Analysis and Systems Acquisition Division Phone: (202) 275-4268


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