Army Acquisition

Javelin Is Not Ready for Multiyear Procurement Gao ID: NSIAD-96-199 September 26, 1996

The Army is purchasing a new $4 billion man portable, antiarmor weapon system, known as the Javelin, to replace its aging Dragon system. Javelin is a joint Army and Marine Corps program expected to strengthen the infantry's ability to counter advanced armor threats. In 1997, the Army plans to award a three-year production contract and begin full-rate production. This report discusses whether (1) the system meets criteria established for multiyear production contracts, (2) the Army has adequately tested the Javelin to determine its suitability for full-rate production, and (3) the Army is using sound economic judgment in purchasing command launch units during limited production.

GAO found that the Army: (1) has not demonstrated that the Javelin's design is sufficiently stable for multiyear production; (2) does not plan to conduct operational testing of the missile until after full-rate production begins; (3) has extensively redesigned the system since it was operationally tested in 1993; (4) believes that its planned testing of the system will be adequate; (5) has conducted only limited testing, which may not be useful for predicting the system's reliability; and (6) could acquire fewer units under its low-rate initial production contract and still sustain the contractor's ability to produce the system.

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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