Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Major Weapon Programs

Abstract

Current and expected fiscal imbalances demand that the Department of Defense (DOD) maximize its return on investment and provide the warfighter with needed capabilities at the best value for the taxpayer. Since 1990, we have assessed weapon acquisitions as a high-risk area. Not only does it continue to be a high risk area, but it has also taken on heightened importance. To transform military operations, DOD has embarked on developing multiple megasystems that are expected to be the most expensive and complex ever. However, these costly acquisitions are running head-on into the nation's unsustainable fiscal path. In the past 5 years, DOD has doubled its planned investments in new weapon systems from $700 billion to $1.4 trillion. This huge increase has not been accompanied by more stability, better outcomes, or more buying power for the acquisition dollar.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA446792

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Cyber
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Control Systems
  • Electronically Scanned Array
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Guided Bombs
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Navy
  • Rockets
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Systems
  • Weapon Control
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Economics
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.