Weapons Acquisitions Guided Weapon Plans Need To Be Reassessed Report To Congressional Requesters PDF Download

This report addresses the affordability and cost-effectiveness of guided weapons currently in development and production. We have concluded that the acquisition plans for guided weapons are based on optimistic funding projections, guided weapon requirements appear to be inflated, there is a proliferation of guided weapon capabilities and acquisition programs, and oversight of guided weapon requirements and acquisition programs needs improvement. The report makes a number of recommendations to the Secretary of Defense, including one to reevaluate the planned deep attack weapon acquisition programs in light of existing capabilities and the current budgetary and security environment. Over the next 10 years-from fiscal year 1998 to 2007-the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to invest about $16.6 billion (then-year dollars) to procure guided weapons that can be used for deep attack missions. Concerned about the affordability and cost-effectiveness of guided weapons currently under development and in production, the Chairmen of the National Security Subcommittee, House Committee on Appropriations, and of the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development, House Committee on National Security, requested that GAO examine major guided weapon programs. Specifically, the Chairmen requested that GAO determine whether (1) the services' plans for developing and/or procuring guided weapons can be carried out as proposed within relatively fixed defense budgets, (2) the number of guided weapons the services plan to buy is consistent with projected threats and modernization needs, (3) the current and planned guided weapon programs duplicate or overlap each other, and (4) DOD is providing effective oversight in the development and procurement of deep attack weapons.