TACTICAL AIRCRAFT: DOD Needs to Better Inform Congress about Implications of Continuing F/A 22 Cost Growth
Abstract
In 1991, the Air Force began developing the F/A-22 aircraft with advanced features to make it less detectable to adversaries and capable of high speeds for long distances. After a history of program cost increases, Congress limited the cost of F/A-22 production to $37.5 billion in 1997. Congress has remained interested in the potential cost of production. As requested, we (1) identified the latest production cost estimate and assessed the planned offsets from cost reduction plans, (2) identified areas where additional cost growth is likely to occur, and (3) determined the extent that DOD has informed Congress about production costs. GAO recommends that the Air Force fund production improvement programs at the planned level to maximize its potential for cost reductions. To help ensure proper congressional oversight, GAO recommends that DOD provide Congress with documentation (1) showing that the Air Force is funding production improvement programs as planned and (2) reflecting the potential cost of production if offsets are not achieved as planned and the aircraft quantity that can be procured with the cost limit. DOD did not concur with GAOs recommendations. GAO believes that DODs position lessens the opportunity to create greater production efficiencies and better inform Congress.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- AD1166677
Entities
People
- Allen Li
- Catherine Baltzell
- Don M. Springman
- Edward Browning
- Gary Middleton
- Marvin Bonner
- Robert Pelletier
- Sameena Nooruddin
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office