Defense Acquisitions: 2009 is a Critical Juncture for the Army's Future Combat System

Abstract

Why GAO Did This Study: The Future Combat System (FCS) program which comprises 14 integrated weapon systems and an advanced information network is the centerpiece of the Army's effort to transition to a lighter, more agile, and more capable combat force. The substantial technical challenges, the Army's acquisition strategy, and the cost of the program are among the reasons why the program is recognized as needing special oversight and review. Section 211 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 requires GAO to report annually on the FCS program. This report includes an examination of (1) how the definition, development, and demonstration of FCS capabilities are proceeding, particularly in light of the go/no-go decision scheduled for 2009; (2) the Army's plans for making production commitments for FCS and any risks related to the completion of development; and (3) the estimated costs for developing and producing FCS.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA477732

Entities

People

  • Chuck Young

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Anti-Tank Missiles
  • Congress
  • Data Compression
  • Ground Vehicles
  • Military Acquisition
  • Radio Equipment
  • Reliability
  • System Software
  • Systems Engineering
  • Target Recognition
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Readers

  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting
  • Software Engineering
  • Strategic Security Studies