Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Maneuver System Schedule Includes Unnecessary Risk Gao ID: NSIAD-95-161 September 15, 1995

The cost of the Defense Department's unmanned aerial vehicle systems, which are designed to fly over enemy territory and transmit images back to ground stations, is expected to reach $4.2 billion. Past unmanned aerial vehicle acquisition programs have been marked by premature entry into production that resulted in extensive and costly system redesigns in attempting to achieve acceptable system performance. Nevertheless, the Joint Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Project Office plans to begin production of the Maneuver system, a variant of the Hunter, without adequate assurance that it can meet operational performance requirements. As a result, the Pentagon will again risk acquiring an unsatisfactory system.

GAO found that: (1) past UAV acquisition programs have been marked by premature entry into production that resulted in extensive and costly system redesigns in an attempt to achieve acceptable system performance; (2) the Joint Tactical UAV project office plans to begin production of the Maneuver system without adequate assurance that it can meet operational performance requirements; and (3) the premature production of the Maneuver system will unnecessarily put the Department of Defense at risk of becoming committed to acquiring an unsatisfactory system.

Recommendations

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