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 1996-06-27 monographic deposited born digital 21 p. GA 1.13:T-NSIAD-96-196 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196 P0b002ee180373408 f:ns96196t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196 T-NSIAD-96-196 Future budget projections Defense cost control Defense economic analysis Defense procurement Defense budgets Defense contingency planning Combat readiness Fighter aircraft Air warfare Defense capabilities Persian Gulf War Soviet Union F-15E Aircraft F-16 Aircraft F/A-18 Aircraft Kiowa Helicopter Cobra Helicopter Apache Helicopter Tomahawk Cruise Missile Army Tactical Missile System Russia China Patriot PAC-3 F-22 Aircraft F/A-18E/F Aircraft Comanche Helicopter Joint Strike Fighter Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Joint Direct Attack Weapon Joint Standoff Weapon Air Force F-22 Program AMRAAM F/A-18C/D Aircraft F-15 Aircraft Super Cobra Helicopter Testimony NSIAD GAO discussed the Department of Defense's (DOD) future combat air power capabilities. GAO noted that: (1) DOD has added many new aircraft to its fleet and has improved the capabilities of its remaining combat aircraft; (2) DOD has made more of its aircraft capable of delivering advanced munitions; (3) DOD does not believe that potential adversaries possess the capabilities needed to prevent U.S. forces from achieving their military objectives; (4) the United States and its allies are cooperating to limit conventional arms transfers to certain nations; (5) DOD has planned major aircraft modernization programs to achieve greater combat capabilities; (6) DOD faces a major challenge in funding these programs, since its budget is expected to decline over the next 6 years; (7) DOD is proceeding with major air power programs without assessing its joint mission requirements; (8) some aircraft modernization programs would marginally improve existing capabilities at a very high cost; (9) there are less costly alternatives that could be pursued to meet the services needs; and (10) it is impossible to determine the necessity of these investments without comparing mission requirements against existing capabilities. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196/html/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196.pdf GAO/T-NSIAD-96-196 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-196 Testimony GAO/T-NSIAD-96-196; Combat Air Power: Joint Mission Assessments Needed Before Making Program and Budget Decisions; Future budget projections Defense cost control Defense economic analysis Defense procurement Defense budgets Defense contingency planning Combat readiness Fighter aircraft Air warfare Defense capabilities Persian Gulf War Soviet Union F-15E Aircraft F-16 Aircraft F/A-18 Aircraft Kiowa Helicopter Cobra Helicopter Apache Helicopter Tomahawk Cruise Missile Army Tactical Missile System Russia China Patriot PAC-3 F-22 Aircraft F/A-18E/F Aircraft Comanche Helicopter Joint Strike Fighter Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Joint Direct Attack Weapon Joint Standoff Weapon Air Force F-22 Program AMRAAM F/A-18C/D Aircraft F-15 Aircraft Super Cobra Helicopter