Status of the B-2 Bomber Program

Gao ID: T-NSIAD-90-16 February 22, 1990

GAO discussed the current status of the B-2 aircraft program. GAO noted that: (1) Congress authorized 6 of the 133 B-2 aircraft that the Air Force planned to procure; (2) Air Force cost estimates have increased since 1981, and the Department of Defense (DOD) was considering revising the estimate again; (3) cost increases have been caused by incomplete aircraft design at the start of manufacturing, underestimated material costs, production schedule extensions, and concurrent development and production; (4) the Air Force has completed only 1 percent of the flight testing it planned and expects delivery delays to further delay flight testing; (5) the program would require up to $8 billion for fiscal years 1992 through 1995 under the current acquisition schedule; and (6) DOD should analyze and report to Congress on alternatives to the B-2 program's acquisition schedule.



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