Defense Acquisition Programs

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the requirements, schedule, performance, cost, and funding support of selected Department of Defense (DOD) weapon system acquisition programs.

GAO found that: (1) DOD decided not to fund the Non-Line-of Sight Missile procurement because other programs had higher priority; (2) demonstration and validation of the Light Helicopter (LHX) program began in November 1988 and is scheduled to end in September 1990; (3) the Army estimates that LHX research, development, and procurement costs for 2,102 aircraft would total $45.7 billion; (4) the MK-50 torpedo program was close to its full-scale development phase and its total estimated cost was $7.3 billion; (5) the Sensor Fuzed Weapon Program (SFW) experienced significant technical problems, including numerous test failures, which resulted in schedule slippages and cost increase; (6) SFW restructuring costs were over $600 million, and program procurement costs for 19,958 weapons were estimated by the Air Force at $3.7 billion; (7) the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) was in the demonstration and validation phase, and program acquisition costs for 750 aircraft were estimated by the Air Force at $79.4 billion; (8) the military services intended to incorporate Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) into airborne, shipboard, and ground command centers, and fighter aircraft; (9) the Air Force has changed its original plan and now expects to use JTIDS on only 20 of its F-15 fighter aircraft; and (10) total estimated JTIDS program costs through production were estimated to total $3.9 billion.