Recommendations for Executive Action

1. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: Development of the aircraft has been completed, and it is in full production.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to accelerate implementation of the Navy proposed cost reduction initiatives estimated to save $1.2 to $4.6 billion.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

2. Status: Closed - Implemented

   Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to determine the value to be derived from the Board of Inspection and Survey Trials. Unnecessary redundancy between the trials and testing already accomplished should be eliminated.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

3. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: The agency did not concur with the recommendation. GAO believes, however, that it is valid.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to delete, to the extent possible, mission-essential equipment from training aircraft, thereby saving substantial procurement, as well as maintenance cost.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

4. Status: Closed - Implemented

   Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to implement competitive procurement of test program sets for an estimated savings of $70 million and explore other situations where competition could be used.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

5. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: Aircraft hardware is now being produced in sufficient numbers for both production and trainer development.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to allocate aircraft hardware between production and trainer development and ensure transfer of flight control system data to permit timely trainer development.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

6. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: Development of the operation flight trainer has been completed.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to incorporate both air-to-ground and electronic counter-countermeasures capability into the operation flight trainer as part of its current development.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

7. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: Automatic test equipment has been developed. This equipment has been provided to operational groups and is being used to test aircraft components.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to preclude future reductions in F/A-18 operational readiness due to delayed automatic test equipment. The Navy should (1) evaluate the cost of additional spares to offset the lack of test capability; (2) select the most cost-effective alternative; and (3) budget to adequately support the selected course of action.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

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