Reducing Military Aircraft Engine Development Cost through Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

In the past thirty years, weapon systems development costs have been steadily increasing with each succeeding system costing mow than the last one. In fact, the cost of developing a new weapons system may become a factor in deciding whether a new system is procured or not. Clearly, there is a need to reduce the cost of developing new military systems. Besides the obvious benefit of saving real dollars at the most critical point in a weapon system's life cycle, lowering development costs could help tip the scales in favor of developing a new system as opposed to modifying an existing system. Studies have shown that a new system usually offers significant capability and performance benefits, as well as cost benefits, over those of a derivative weapons system. Reducing the cost of developing new weapons systems also can mean that mow systems could be developed within a constrained budget, a situation that is most favorable to sustaining our industrial base. A new weapon system, rather than a derivative or modification also offers the best opportunity for technology advancement and for technology transition into the hands of the nation's warfighter.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADP014146

Entities

People

  • Charles A. Skira

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Assembly
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Computers
  • Cost Reductions
  • Engineering
  • Fabrication
  • Gas Turbines
  • Geometry
  • Manufacturing
  • Military Aircraft
  • Production
  • Program Management
  • Three Dimensional
  • Turbines
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Systems Analysis and Design