Status Update of the New 155 mm Lightweight Howitzer

摘要

Since our July 2000 report, all key milestones except one have continued to slip. For example, acceptance of the first developmental howitzer slipped an additional 5 months from June to November 2000, and delivery of the remaining 7 developmental howitzers was delayed an additional 5 to 10 months. The production decision has slipped from March 2002 to September 2002 and the initial fielding of the new howitzer by the Marine Corps has slipped another 8 months to July 2004 or 28 months from the date set at the original contract award. The initial fielding of the howitzer to the Army remains unchanged at March 2005. Since July 2000, total program cost estimates have increased from $1,129.9 million to $1,250.2 million, an increase of $120.3 million. 2 This increase is principally the result of restructuring the developmental contract which added $20.2 million and an approximately $100 million increase for an electronic aiming system.