Defense Acquisitions: DOD Needs to Reassess Joint Cruise Missile Costs before Starting New Production Phase

Abstract

Over the past two and a half decades, the Department of Defense (DOD) has invested heavily to acquire a cruise missile capable of attacking ground targets stealthily, reliably, and affordably. After abandoning an earlier, more expensive missile and a joint service effort, the Air Force began producing the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) in 2001. After that, the program (1) encountered many flight test failures, (2) decided to develop an extended range version, and (3) recognized significant cost growth. The production decision for the JASSM-ER is planned for November 2010. Also, the Secretary of Defense has recently announced a major initiative to restore affordability and productivity in defense spending. This initiative is expected to, among other things, identify savings by conducting needed programs more efficiently. As DOD faces the initial production decision on JASSM-ER, GAO was asked to assess (1) most recent test results, correction of causes of previous flight test failures, and efforts to improve JASSM's reliability; and (2) JASSM cost changes, efforts to control costs, and additional cost risks for the program.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA530980

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Cost Analysis
  • Cost Estimates
  • Cruise Missiles
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Military Acquisition
  • Procurement
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Government
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Missile Defense Systems.