Defense Acquisitions: Progress of the F/A-18E/F Engineering and Manufacturing Development Program
NSIAD-99-127
Published: Jun 15, 1999. Publicly Released: Jun 15, 1999.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Navy's F/A-18E/F developmental and operational test program, focusing on the: (1) extent to which the aircraft is meeting performance requirements; (2) risks associated with proceeding into operational test and evaluation (OPEVAL) with unresolved deficiencies; and (3) potential cost increases and risks associated with approving the Navy's request for multiyear funding for the program.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | Given the uncertainty surrounding the F/A-18E/F's final design and the Navy's intention not to correct all deficiencies and test those corrections as part of OPEVAL, the Secretary of Defense should defer multiyear funding for the E/F program until all corrections of deficiencies have been incorporated into the aircraft design and successfully tested. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD did not take action on the recommendation. The F/A-18E/F was submitted for multiyear approval in the fiscal year 2000 budget submission. However, the DOD fiscal year 2000 authorization conference report includes an amendment submitted by Senator Feingold that does address the recommendation. The amendment requires that the F/A-18E/F demonstrated during operational tests that it meets all 1997 F/A-18E/F ORD Key Performance Parameters for both the "E" and "F" models before it may enter into a multiyear procurement or full-rate production.
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Contract costsDefense capabilitiesFighter aircraftMilitary appropriationsMilitary cost controlMultiyear contractsNaval aircraftNaval procurementOperational testingAircraft