United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-03-07 monographic deposited born digital 24 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-566T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T P0b002ee1803790e7 f:d07566t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T GAO-07-566T Accountability Airlift services Best practices Cost analysis Data collection Data integrity Defense capabilities Defense cost control Defense procurement Military aircraft Military systems analysis Program evaluation Reporting requirements Requirements definition Risk assessment Schedule slippages Strategic planning Cost estimates Cost growth C-130 Aircraft C-130 Avionics Modernization Program C-130J Aircraft C-5 Aircraft C-5 Avionics Modernization Program C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Reengining Program Testimony A66545

The Department of Defense (DOD) has continuing efforts to modernize its airlift and tanker fleets by investing billions of dollars to modify legacy airlift systems, such as the C-5 and C-130, and procure new aircraft, such as a tanker replacement. Acquisition has been on GAO's list as a high risk area since 1990. GAO has reported that elements contributing to a sound business case for an acquisition are missing or incomplete as DOD and the services attempt to acquire new capabilities. Those elements include firm requirements, mature technologies, a knowledge-based acquisition strategy, a realistic cost estimate, and sufficient funding. Acquisition problems that include failure to limit cost growth, schedule delays, and quantity reductions persist, but fiscal realities will not allow budgets to accommodate these problems any longer. Today's testimony addresses (1) the analyses supporting the Department of Defense's (DOD) mobility capabilities and requirements and (2) actions that are needed to improve the outcomes of weapon system acquisitions. For this testimony, GAO drew from issued reports, containing statements of the scope and methodology used, as well as recently completed work not yet reported. GAO's work was performed in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T.pdf GAO-07-566T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-566T Testimony GAO-07-566T; Defense Acquisitions: Issues Concerning Airlift and Tanker Programs; Accountability Airlift services Best practices Cost analysis Data collection Data integrity Defense capabilities Defense cost control Defense procurement Military aircraft Military systems analysis Program evaluation Reporting requirements Requirements definition Risk assessment Schedule slippages Strategic planning Cost estimates Cost growth C-130 Aircraft C-130 Avionics Modernization Program C-130J Aircraft C-5 Aircraft C-5 Avionics Modernization Program C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Reengining Program Title 10 Section 2366a 10 U.S.C. 2366a