Munitions Lift Trailers for Strategic Bombers

Testimony was given on a GAO review of the acquisition of MHU-173 munitions lift trailers to support B-52 and B-1B bombers, and Air Force strategies to improve lift trailer operational effectiveness and reduce their acquisition and support cost. Munitions lift trailers are large support vehicles which are used to transport air launched cruise missiles and other nuclear weapons and load them onto strategic bombers. The development of the trailers and associated support equipment costs about $13 million, and the average unit cost of the trailers acquired to date is $588,000. The Air Force has identified a need for 245 trailers, and 82 have been acquired and another 71 ordered. GAO found that this requirement may be overstated because: (1) the assumptions used to derive the requirement were based on an outdated analysis of lift trailer operations; (2) operational plans and trailer availability data indicate that fewer trailers may be needed; and (3) each bomber may carry one less internal weapon load than anticipated. The Air Force experienced low trailer availability, unexpectedly high repair parts demands, and a general dissatisfaction with the trailers during initial deployment. These problems have been largely overcome following increased management oversight, experience gained in using the trailers, and improvements to the supply and support system. However, the trailers remain more costly to operate and support than the Air Force desires. In December 1983, a major redesign of the trailer was approved to make the trailer easier to operate and less costly to acquire and support. Two trailers have already been remanufactured, and preliminary tests indicate that the improved trailer is easier to operate and annual support costs will be one quarter of present costs. The Air Force plans to remanufacture the remaining 80 trailers to incorporate these new design features. However, in a draft report, GAO recommended that the decision be deferred until the uncertainty surrounding the useful lives and cost effectiveness of the remanufactured trailers is determined.