Defense Acquisition Comanche Program Objectives Need to be Revised to More Achievable Levels
Abstract
Since 1983, the Army has been working to build its next-generation helicopter, the Comanche, with the intention of significantly expanding the Army's capability to conduct attack and reconnaissance operations in all battlefield environments, day or night and during adverse weather conditions. With a projected total acquisition cost of about $48 billion, Comanche is the Army's largest aviation acquisition program. In June 2000, the Comanche program awarded a six-year engineering and manufacturing development contract to Boeing-Sikorsky. The program office plans to begin low-rate initial production in June 2005 and full-rate production in December 2006. Current Army plans call for the acquisition of 1,213 Comanches through fiscal year 2026. Success in meeting the Comanche's performance requirements largely depends on the Army's ability to meet the helicopter's weight requirements and to develop and integrate advanced technologies such as the critical mission equipment package, integrated satellite communication capabilities, and on-board capability to detect and isolate equipment problems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA390977
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office