B61-12 Nuclear Bomb: Cost Estimate for Life Extension Incorporated Best Practices, and Steps Being Taken to Manage Remaining Program Risks
Abstract
Weapons in the U.S. nuclear stockpile are aging. To refurbish or replace nuclear weapons aging components, NNSA and DOD undertake LEPs. TheB61-12 LEP is the most complex and expensive LEP to date. In October2016, NNSA formalized a program cost estimate of about $7.6 billion, which is lower than an independent cost estimate of about $10 billion. Senate Report 113-44 included a provision for GAO to periodically assess the status of the B61-12 LEP. This report assesses (1) the extent to which NNSA followed best practices for cost estimation in producing the program cost estimate for the B61-12LEP; (2) the reasons for differences between the program cost estimate and the independent cost estimate and how the differences were reconciled; and (3) the extent to which NNSA and DOD have identified and managed program risks. GAO assessed the program cost estimate against best practices, reviewed NNSA and DOD documents, conducted site visits to four NNSA and Air Force sites responsible for design, production, and management activities, and interviewed NNSA and DOD officials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1169517
Entities
People
- Allison B. Bawden
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office