F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: DoD's Proposed Follow-On Modernization Acquisition Strategy Reflects an Incremental Approach Although Plans Are Not Yet Finalized

Abstract

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the Department of Defenses (DOD) most expensive and ambitious acquisition program. In April 2017, we reported that acquisition costs alone are estimated at nearly $400 billion, and operating and sustainment costs are estimated to be over$1 trillion.1 Meanwhile, due to evolving threats and changing warfighting environments, DOD has begun planning and funding the development of new capabilities for the F-35, known as F35 follow-on modernization.2 The research, development, test and evaluation (RDT and E) funding needed for the first modernization phase, known as Block 4, is projected to be over $3.9 billion through 2022, which would exceed the statutory and regulatory thresholds for what constitutes a major defense acquisitions program (MDAP), and would make it more expensive than many of the other MDAPs already in DODs portfolio. 3

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 08, 2017
Accession Number
AD1163984

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Sullivan

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accountability
  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Best Practices
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Costs
  • Data Processing
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Governments
  • House Of Representatives
  • Military Acquisition
  • Procurement
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting