Problems Affecting the Procurement and Operation of the Army's AH-64 Attack Helicopter and Associated Systems
C-MASAD-81-1
Published: Feb 12, 1981. Publicly Released: Feb 12, 1981.
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Highlights
The Army's newest attack helicopter, the AH-64, will carry the new laser-guided HELLFIRE missile. A production decision for each is due late in calendar year 1981. In addition to these new acquisitions, the Army has plans to continue upgrading its current fleet of attack helicopters. It also plans to improve a different helicopter to support the attack helicopters in a scouting role.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should place restrictions on the obligation of fiscal year 1982 procurement funds for the AH-64 and laser HELLFIRE until the Secretary of Defense has assured the House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees that the system's critical technical problems have been corrected. | Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should, in view of its apparent incompatibility with the AH-64, determine whether there are other potential uses for the scout helicopter important enough to warrant requesting procurement funds from Congress for an improvement program. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should provide the House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, during fiscal year 1982 budget hearings, with an assessment of other program alternatives to include: (1) an identification of lower priority programs that could be terminated or deferred to fully fund and restore the AH-64 and laser HELLFIRE to their original procurement schedules if development and operational problems are satisfactorily resolved; (2) the merits of purchasing fewer AH-64's and fully upgrading the full fleet of Cobras; and (3) trade-offs within the procurement budget that would permit improving the scout helicopter, if it is needed. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the AH-64, with the laser HELLFIRE system on board, is adequately tested and evaluated under operational conditions representative of a high-threat European environment before approving full production. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
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Topics
Appropriated fundsArmy procurementCost overrunsDefense contingency planningHelicoptersMissilesProcurement policyProcurement practicesProgram managementWeapons systems