Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs

Abstract

This is GAO's ninth annual assessment of Department of Defense (DOD) weapon system acquisitions, an area that is on GAO's high-risk list. The report is in response to the mandate in the joint explanatory statement to the DOD Appropriations Act, 2009. It includes observations on the performance of DOD's 2010 portfolio of 98 major defense acquisition programs; data on selected factors that can affect program outcomes; an assessment of the knowledge attained by key junctures in the acquisition process for a subset of 40 programs, which were selected because they were in development or early production; and observations on the implementation of acquisition reforms. To conduct this review, GAO analyzed cost, schedule, and quantity data from DOD's Selected Acquisition Reports and collected data from program offices on performance requirements and software development; technology, design, and manufacturing knowledge; and the implementation of DOD's acquisition policy and acquisition reforms. GAO also compiled one- or two-page assessments of 71 weapon programs. These programs were selected based on their cost, stage in the acquisition process, and congressional interest.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA540208

Entities

People

  • Alan D. Rozzi
  • Arthur Gallegos
  • Bruce D. Fairbairn
  • David B. Best
  • Deanna R. Laufer
  • Maricela Cherveny
  • Raj C. Chitikila
  • Ronald E. Schwenn
  • Wendy P. Smythe
  • William R. Graveline

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Boats
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Marine Transportation
  • National Security
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Organizational Structure
  • Rockets
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Transport Aircraft
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Business Analytics
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management