Space Launch
Cost Increases and Schedule Delays in the Air Force's Titan IV Program Gao ID: NSIAD-90-113 May 3, 1990Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Air Force Titan IV program's contract status, cost growth, and schedule estimates.
GAO found that: (1) between March 1988 and October 1989, Titan IV program costs increased by $1.9 billion; (2) the Air Force planned to use 21 of the 55 launch vehicles procured through fiscal year (FY) 1995; (3) the Air Force funded most Titan IV research and development and launch facilities; (4) the cost overrun on the Titan IV contract was $209 million as of July 1989, which was primarily due to production and engineering problems; (5) the Air Force postponed 6 of the 10 launches planned for FY 1989 and FY 1990 because of launch site preparation delays and payload rescheduling; and (6) the completion dates for 3 Titan IV facilities slipped up to 20 months.