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 1999-06-15 monographic deposited born digital 31 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-99-127 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127 P0b002ee1803889da f:ns99127 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127 NSIAD-99-127 Operational testing Defense capabilities Fighter aircraft Naval aircraft Naval procurement Military cost control Military appropriations Contract costs Multiyear contracts F/A-18E/F Aircraft F/A-18C/D Aircraft MK-83 Bomb ALE-50 Towed Decoy System ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver AIM-9X Missile Letter Report NSIAD The F/A-18E/F is meeting all performance requirements, according to the Navy. GAO does not agree with this assessment. The Navy based its assessment on the E model's performance and assumed some improvements to the aircraft that have yet to be shown. Without that assumption, the F model, which makes up more than half of the E/F planned buy, is not meeting the interdiction range requirement--a primary justification for the program. The Navy's schedule for operational test and evaluation, combined with unresolved aircraft deficiencies, could cause the E/F to fail that testing. Corrections of some deficiencies have been shifted to later in the program. This will help the Navy stay within the congressionally mandated cost cap for development; however, correcting these shortcomings will increase the aircraft's development costs. GAO recommends that the Defense Department defer multiyear funding for the E/F program until all corrections of deficiencies have been incorporated into the aircraft's design and successfully tested. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127.pdf GAO/NSIAD-99-127 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-127 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-99-127; Defense Acquisitions: Progress of the F/A-18E/F; Operational testing Defense capabilities Fighter aircraft Naval aircraft Naval procurement Military cost control Military appropriations Contract costs Multiyear contracts F/A-18E/F Aircraft F/A-18C/D Aircraft MK-83 Bomb ALE-50 Towed Decoy System ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver AIM-9X Missile Public Law 105-261