Defense Acquisition: Fleet Ballistic Missile Program Offers Lessons for Successful Programs

Abstract

The Fleet Ballistic Missile system is the U.S. sea-based deterrent against the Soviet nuclear threat. Nuclear-powered submarines carrying nuclear- tipped Polaris A-1 ballistic missiles began operational patrols in 1960. In March 1990, fourth-generation submarines began operation with sixth-generation Trident II (D-5) missiles. The Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile program is one of the few major weapon system acquisitions that, over the years, has consistently met or bettered its cost, schedule, and performance goals. GAO was asked to determine (1) what features have contributed to the Fleet Ballistic Missile program's success and (2) whether those features were present in other selected defense acquisition programs. GAO also determined to what extent the six features identified by the Packard Commission as typical of successful commercial programs could be found in the selected defense acquisition programs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA253628

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Civilian Personnel
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Fleet Ballistic Missiles
  • Government Procurement
  • Military Acquisition
  • Naval Operations
  • Navy
  • Nuclear Powered Submarines
  • Nuclear Propulsion
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Rockets
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.