Acquiring Weapon Systems in a Period of Rising Expenditures: Implications for Defense Management

摘要

Our reports identify 81 issues, falling into 14 categories, which either have a direct bearing on the weapon systems' effectiveness or on the management of the acquisition program. An addition to this year's report is the inclusion of a matrix and narrative summarizing the potential impacts we believe our recommendations would have on the reviewed programs if acted upon. These include opportunities to minimize risks, ensure system effectiveness, improve disclosure of information to the Congress, affirm system requirements, evaluate alternatives, and reduce costs. Issues associated with the weapon systems' effectiveness fall into the six broad categories of operational requirements, force level or mix requirements, operational or performance limitations, survivability or vulnerability, reliability or maintainability, and logistics support.