The Navy spent $ 1.4 billion on backup helicopters "it did not need" until fiscal year 2020, and will spend $2 million annually to store those aircraft as a result of requirements offices not informing one another of schedule changes, according to a new government watchdog report. The Navy procured 34 MH-60R and 23 MH-60S helicopters that were not needed until FY-20 when additional Littoral Combat Ships are delivered, a Jan. 18 Defense Department inspector general report stated. "Furthermore, the need for these helicopters will continue to be delayed if the LCS delivery schedule is delayed beyond October 2023," the report stated. That's one of several problems auditors found when they examined the Navy and Marine Corps' backup aircraft and ground vehicles, also called the "depot maintenance float allowance." These vehicles are stored and maintained by the services as spares for when in-use vehicles require maintenance. Auditors examined the DMFA for F/A-18 Hornets A-D, T-45 Goshawk trainer aircraft, MH-60 helicopters as well as the Marine Corps' Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Light Armored Vehicle and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. The report does not specify what prompted the IG to conduct the audit. The problems and root causes for each group of platforms varied. For the MH-60 helicopters, the inspector general concluded the Navy's top requirements officer (N9) did not require communication between the air warfare requirements office (N98) and other requirements divisions.
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