Navy Aviation: F/A-18E/F will Provide Marginal Operational Improvement at High Cost.
Abstract
The F/A-18E/F program, at a projected total program cost of $63.09 billion (fiscal year 1996 dollars)/$89.15 billion (then-year dollars), is one of the most costly aviation programs in the Department of Defense (DOD). It is the successor to several unsuccessful attempts to modernize the Navy's tactical aviation fleet and is intended to complement and eventually replace the Navy's F/A-18C/D and F-14 aircraft. GAO'S review focused on determining whether continued development of the F/A-18E/F is the most cost-effective approach to modernizing the Navy's tactical aircraft fleet Specific objectives were to (1) determine whether operational deficiencies in the F/A-18C/D cited by the Navy to justify the need for the F/A-18E/F have materialized and, if they have, the extent to which the E/F would correct them, (2) ascertain whether the F/A-18E/F will provide an appreciable increase in operational capability over the F/A-18C/D, and (3) review the reliability of the cost estimates for the F/A-18E/F and compare those estimates with the costs of potential alternatives to the E/F program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA311149
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office