B-2 Bomber

Congress' keen interest in the B-2 Program is reflected in recent legislation restricting the program's use of appropriations until the Pentagon has certified that specific B-2 performance characteristics have been demonstrated. This report discusses the status of these demonstrations. The flight test program continues behind the schedule that the Air Force planned when the first aircraft was delivered and the flight test program began. The Air Force's flight schedule now extends flight tests to August 1996 because of problems during flight testing and the late delivery of flight test aircraft. Air Force officials now say that the demonstrations will be completed in 1993; however, the subsequent certification will not be based on actual flight tests of integrated offensive and defensive avionics on a B-2 aircraft. GAO doubts whether supplemental testing in the laboratory and the flying test bed will yield solid evidence of the B-2's abilities in these critical areas. Congress' continued funding of the program has enabled the Air Force to move forward with the production of the last five aircraft. As of September 30, 1992, these planes had not entered the final stages of assembly.

GAO found that: (1) the flight test program is behind the schedule the Air Force planned in 1989; (2) the latest Air Force schedule, approved in 1991, extended flight tests to August 1996 because of problems during flight testing and the late delivery of flight test aircraft; (3) the fourth development aircraft was delivered 12 months behind the original schedule; (4) DOD will not be able to complete demonstrations needed to satisfy provisions of the fiscal years 1992 and 1993 DOD Authorization Act based on June 1992 test schedules for the B-2 aircraft or submit a certification of compliance until mid-1993; (5) DOD will certify compliance without actual flight tests of integrated offensive and defensive avionics on B-2 aircraft; (6) DOD will not be able to demonstrate a high degree of confidence in mission accomplishment for all critical performance characteristics until offensive and defensive avionics are flight tested; and (7) although the act restricted obligating fiscal year 1992 funds to procure the 16th aircraft, Congress has appropriated funds to initiate and continue long lead efforts for five B-2 aircraft.