From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for:
Completing Software Update on CROWS Could Save Taxpayers $130 Million


Description: 

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed Department of
Defense (DOD) weapon system sustainment reports for fiscal years 2023
and 2024 and found that 14 of 36 systems experienced critical operating
and support (O&S) cost growth.  O&S costs include repair parts,
maintenance activities, contract services, and personnel, and represent
a significant portion of total life-cycle costs.

GAO identified common causes reported by DOD for this cost growth,
including extensions to operational life.
The report also found that, while DOD has taken some actions to address
previously identified cost growth (from fiscal years 2021 and 2022), the
Army has not fully implemented a software update intended to fix a key
maintenance issue for the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station
(CROWS).

GAO estimates that completing this update could result in more than $130
million in cost savings over the system's remaining approximately
30-year life cycle.

GAO further reported that DOD has faced challenges in conducting
sustainment reviews and determining O&S cost growth, and has taken steps
to address these challenges, including revising guidance to improve cost
estimating data.
This report is the final review required under a provision in the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which directed
GAO to assess DOD sustainment reviews and O&S cost estimates through
2025.

Related GAO Work:GAO-26-108140, WEAPON SYSTEM SUSTAINMENT
DOD Identified Critical Cost Growth, and the Army Should Take Action to
Yield Cost Savings

Released: April 2026

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What if a software update could save taxpayers $130 million?

That's exactly what one recommendation from the US Government
Accountability Office suggests.

Here's the issue. The Army uses a system called Crows, short for Common
Remotely Operated Weapon Station. It lets soldiers operate a variety of
mounted weapons from inside armored vehicles.

But there's a catch before using the system. Operators have to remove
something called travel locks, basically safety restraints that keep the
weapons stable during transport.

If those locks are left in place and the system is powered on, it can
cause serious damage to the housing assembly, leading to costly repairs.
So what's the fix? A software update the Army developed an update that
alerts operators if the travel locks are still engaged before the system
starts.

Simple.

But here's the problem. About 50% of Crows systems didn't have this
update installed.

Implementing this fix could save taxpayers up to $130 million.


[ End ]


For more info, check out our report GAO-26-108140 at: GAO.gov