Tactical Aircraft: Opportunity to Reduce Risks in the Joint Strike Fighter Program with Different Acquisition Strategy;Report to the Congress

摘要

The Department of Defenses (DOD) Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program aims to develop and field more than 2,400 stealthy fighter planes with greater capabilities than DODs aging tactical aircraft. JSF is DODs most costly aircraft program, with estimated life-cycle costs approaching $600 billion. Since the program began, in 1996, JSF has experienced significant cost and schedule overruns. While the program has worked to prepare more accurate cost and delivery estimates, upcoming investment decisions will indicate the level of risk DOD is willing to accept as the program moves forward and annual outlays significantly increase. GAO is required by law to review the JSF program annually for the next 5 years. This first report analyzes J new capabilities to the warfighter and determines whether JSFs current acquisition strategy follows best practices. GAO recommends that DOD establish an executable program consistent with best practices and DOD policy regarding knowledgebased, evolutionary acquisitions. If DOD moves the program forward without capturing adequate knowledge, it should not make investments to increase production capability until it has. DOD partially concurred but believes its current practices achieve the recommendations objectives.