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Air Force Aircraft: Consolidating Fighter Squadrons Could Reduce Costs

NSIAD-96-82 Published: May 06, 1996. Publicly Released: May 06, 1996.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the cost-effectiveness of the Air Force's reconfiguration of F-15 and F-16 fighters into smaller squadrons, focusing on the consequences this might have on the Secretary of Defense's efforts to reduce defense infrastructure costs.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense, in his efforts to reduce the Department of Defense's infrastructure costs, should require the Secretary of the Air Force to develop an implementation plan to operate the Air Force's fighter force in larger, more cost-effective squadrons. If the Secretary of Defense believes that the plan could reduce costs, he should seek congressional support for it.
Closed – Implemented
The Air Force has consolidated, to some degree, fighter squadrons back to 24 aircraft per squadron as GAO recommended. Five additional squadron consolidations were planned for FY1999 and FY2000. These consolidations are estimated to save $23.5 million for each of fiscal years 1999 and 2000. DOD now considers the recommendation closed.

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Topics

National Defense
Air warfareBase realignmentsCombat readinessCost effectiveness analysisDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningFighter aircraftMilitary aviationMilitary cost controlTactical air forces