Naval Aviation

GAO believes that the decision to develop the F/A-18E/F was premature. The aircraft was not justified to counter a specific military threat that could not be met with current capabilities. Instead, the main reason for developing the F/A-18E/F was to have available an aircraft large enough to carry improved weapons and electronic systems that were expected to become available in the future. Even assuming a valid military threat, the Navy made no analysis to determine whether the threat could be met by changing tactics or strategy or by using weapons systems in the inventory of another military service. Further, pursuing F/A-18E/F development at this time may preclude consideration of other viable ways to accomplish the mission. In this time of changing military threats and shrinking defense budgets, the Navy, in justifying the F/A-18E/F, should have gone beyond a mere attempt to show which fixed-wing aircraft would be most desirable.

GAO found that: (1) the Navy's decision to develop the F/A-18E/F aircraft is premature; (2) although the F/A-18E/F would be large enough to accommodate improved weapon systems and new electronic systems, F/A-18E/F procurement cannot be sufficiently justified, since existing military threats can be met with current aircraft capabilities; (3) the Navy has not properly considered alternatives for meeting its mission needs including changes to its tactics or strategy; and (4) the Navy needs to reevaluate the F/A-18E/F program and revise its cost and operational analysis before F/A-18E/F production is approved.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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