Aircraft Development: Reasons for Recent Cost Growth in the Advanced Tactical Fighter Program

Abstract

In April 1990, the Secretary of Defense announced that a review of the Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program had found that the ATF is needed to replace the F-15 for the air superiority mission, but its production could be delayed because of changed world conditions and the possibility of a longer F-15 service life. Air Force officials subsequently told your staff that the production delay and other program changes increased the total estimated program cost in escalated dollars from $79.5 billion to $102 billion. In January 1991, you asked us to identify the key factors in the ATF's cost estimate that contributed to the increase. Given the short time frame in which you wanted this information, we have relied on data provided by the Air Force. We have not independently verified the estimates.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA269802

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Air Superiority Fighters
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Composite Materials
  • Cost Estimates
  • Department Of Defense
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Materials
  • Mathematical Analysis
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Production
  • Production Rate
  • Tactical Aircraft

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Mathematics or Statistics