Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs

Abstract

This is GAO's annual assessment of DOD weapon system acquisitions, an area that is on GAOs high-risk list. The report is in response to the mandate in the joint explanatory statement to the DOD Appropriations Act, 2009. It includes (1) observations on the cost performance of DODs 2011 portfolio of 96 major defense acquisition programs; (2) an assessment of the knowledge attained by key junctures in the acquisition process for 37 major defense acquisition programs, which were selected because they were in development or early production; (3) observations on the implementation of acquisition reforms, particularly for 16 future major defense acquisition programs that are not yet in the portfolio, which represent the best opportunity to assess DODs progress in this area. To conduct this review, GAO analyzed cost, schedule, and quantity data from DODs Selected Acquisition Reports and collected data from program offices on technology, design, and manufacturing knowledge; the use of knowledge-based acquisition practices; and the implementation of DODs acquisition policy and acquisition reforms. GAO also compiled individual assessments of 68 weapon programs. Selection factors include major defense acquisition programs in development or early production, future programs, and recently cancelled programs. DOD agreed that cost growth has occurred, but did not fully agree with our metrics for measuring cost growth, stating that they did not adequately address when, why, and how it occurred. GAO believes the report directly addresses these distinctions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2012
Accession Number
AD1177174

Entities

People

  • Arthur Gallegos
  • Bruce D. Fairbairn
  • Bruce H. Thomas
  • C. J. Madar
  • David B. Best
  • Deanna R. Laufer
  • Diana L. Moldafsky
  • J. K. Keener
  • Jean L. Mcsween
  • Jenny Shinn
  • Julia M. Kennon
  • Kenneth E. Patton
  • Kristine R. Hassinger
  • Letisha Antone
  • Maricela Cherveny
  • Michael J. Sullivan
  • Rae Ann H. Sapp
  • Ronald E. Schwenn
  • Roxanna T. Sun
  • Scott Purdy
  • Wendy P. Smythe
  • William R. Graveline

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Boats
  • Control Systems
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Marine Transportation
  • National Security
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Rockets
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Systems
  • Warning Systems
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis