United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-06-18 monographic deposited born digital 105 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-96-98 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98 P0b002ee18039270f f:ns96098 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98 NSIAD-96-98 Navy procurement Naval aircraft Tactical air forces Cost effectiveness analysis Advanced weapons systems Fighter aircraft Air warfare Military cost control Defense capabilities F/A-18 Aircraft Joint Strike Fighter F/A-18C/D Aircraft F/A-18E/F Aircraft Hornet Aircraft Bosnia F-404 Engine F-414 Engine ALR-67(V)3 Radar Warning Receiver DOD Bottom-Up Review Joint Advanced Strike Technology Program ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing System Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile AMRAAM Chapter Report NSIAD GAO reviewed the Navy's plan to procure with F/A-18E/F aircraft, focusing on: (1) whether operational deficiencies in the F/A-18C/D cited by the Navy to justify the need for the F/A-18E/F have materialized and, if they have, the extent to which the F/A-18E/F would correct them; (2) whether the F/A-18E/F will provide an appreciable increase in operational capability over the F/A-18C/D; and (3) the reliability of the cost estimates for the F/A-18E/F and a comparison of those estimates with the costs of potential alternatives.<p/>GAO found that: (1) the F/A-18C/D could achieve strike ranges far greater than the F/A-18E/F with some modifications; (2) F/A-18C/D aircraft in service in Bosnian operations have achieved a carrier recovery payload capacity greater than the F/A-18E/F carrier recovery payload capacity; (3) while the F/A-18E/F would enjoy improved survivability over the F/A-18C/D, current threats do not justify the planned improvements, and those improvements might be better attained at less cost with the next-generation Joint Strike Fighter; (4) despite the Navy's prediction, the F/A-18C/D has the additional space required for new avionics systems; (5) projected F/A-18E/F payload improvements may not occur due to air flow problems and weight limitations; (6) the next-generation Joint Strike Fighter may cost up to $21 million less per aircraft, and be more capable than the F/A-18E/F; (7) the F/A-18E/F will cost $9.6 million more per aircraft than originally estimated; and (8) the Navy would save $17 billion in recurring flyaway costs if it procured F/A-18C/D aircraft rather than F/A-18E/F aircraft. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98.pdf GAO/NSIAD-96-98 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-98 Chapter Report GAO/NSIAD-96-98; Navy Aviation: F/A-18E/F will Provide Marginal Operational Improvement at High Cost; Navy procurement Naval aircraft Tactical air forces Cost effectiveness analysis Advanced weapons systems Fighter aircraft Air warfare Military cost control Defense capabilities F/A-18 Aircraft Joint Strike Fighter F/A-18C/D Aircraft F/A-18E/F Aircraft Hornet Aircraft Bosnia F-404 Engine F-414 Engine ALR-67(V)3 Radar Warning Receiver DOD Bottom-Up Review Joint Advanced Strike Technology Program ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing System Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile AMRAAM