Defense Acquisitions: Actions Needed to Get Better Results on Weapons Systems Investments

Abstract

DoD has a mandate to deliver high-quality products to warfighters, when they need them and at a price the country can afford. Quality and timeliness are especially critical to maintain DoD's superiority over others, to counter quickly changing threats and to better protect and enable the warfighter. Cost is critical given DoD's stewardship responsibility for taxpayer money, combined with long-term budget forecasts which indicate that the nation will not be able to sustain its currently planned level of investment in weapons system, and DoD's plans to increase investments in weapons systems that enable transformation of various military operations. At this time, however, DoD is simply not positioned to deliver high quality products in a timely and cost-efficient fashion. It is not unusual to see cost increases that add up to tens or hundreds of millions dollars, schedule delays that add up to years, and large and expensive programs frequently rebaselined or even scrapped after years of failing achieve promised capability.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 05, 2006
Accession Number
ADA445950

Entities

People

  • David M. Walker

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Best Practices
  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Governments
  • House Of Representatives
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Operations
  • Organizational Structure
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.