1993 Navy Budget

GAO reviewed the Navy's fiscal year 1993 Aircraft Procurement budget request and prior appropriations and identified $399.8 million in potential reductions. Congress may wish to cut the fiscal year 1993 Air Force Procurement budget by $237.8 million, the amount requested for 48 F/A-18 upgraded radars and spares. The reason is that test results on the radar's effectiveness will be unavailable until the end of fiscal year 1995. Further, Congress may want to reduce or condition the fiscal year 1993 procurement funding for the Consolidated Automated Support System by about $162 million pending the successful resolution of all testing concerns. Additionally, Congress may wish to condition the obligation of $247 million in fiscal year 1993 funds for the purchase of F/A-18 engines on the resolution of significant engineering concerns arising from the substantially reduced life expectancies of engine components. The Navy attributes the reduced life to defective contractor analyses.

GAO found that: (1) the Navy could potentially reduce its FY 1993 aircraft procurement budget request by $399.8 million; (2) Congress could reduce funding requests for the F/A-18 Aircraft Radar Upgrade program by $237.8 million and the consolidated automated support system by $162 million until testing is completed; and (3) Congress could condition the obligation of $247 million in FY 1993 for the purchase of F/A-18 engines on further information regarding certain engine components' life expectancies.