Defence Acquisitions: Navy's Ability to Overcome Challenges Facing the Littoral Combat Ship Will Determine Eventual Capabilities
Abstract
The Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is envisioned as a reconfigurable vessel able to meet three missions: surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and antisubmarine warfare. It consists of the ship (seaframe) and the mission package it carries and deploys. The Navy plans to invest over $25 billion through fiscal year 2035 to acquire LCSs. However, recurring cost growth and schedule delays have jeopardized the Navy's ability to deliver promised LCS capabilities. Based on a congressional request, GAO did the following: (1) identified technical, design, and construction challenges to completing the first four ships within current cost and schedule estimates; (2) assessed the Navy's progress in developing and fielding mission packages; and (3) evaluated the quality of recent Navy cost analyses for seaframes and their effect on program progress. GAO's findings are based on an analysis of government and contractor-generated documents, and discussions with defense officials and key contractors. This product is a public version of a For Official Use Only report, GAO-10-1006SU, also issued in August 2010. GAO recommends that the Secretary of Defense take actions to ensure more realistic cost estimates, timely incorporation of design changes, and coordination of seaframe and mission package acquisition. The Department of Defense concurred with each of these recommendations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA529375
Entities
People
- Amber N. Keyser
- Belva M. Martin
- Christopher R. Durbin
- Greg Campbell
- Jasmin Jahanshahi
- Jason D Kelly
- Jeremy Hawk
- Julia P. Jebo
- Karen Zuckerstein
- Kristine Hassinger
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office