Major Acquisitions:
Summary of Recurring Problems and Systemic Issues--1960-1987
NSIAD-88-135BR: Published: Sep 13, 1988. Publicly Released: Oct 17, 1988.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) weapon acquisitions to determine whether problems in acquiring defense weapon systems were different than in the past.
GAO found that: (1) weapons systems have experienced the same systemic problems and affordability issues since the 1960s; (2) external influences that affected major weapons systems included preprogram decisions, instability in upper management's commitment to weapons requirements, insufficient funding, and inappropriate external management direction; (3) program managers' premature commitment to unproven designs led to cost growth, performance pitfalls, and schedule slippages; (4) although the 1980 systems experienced lower cost growth and schedule slippage rates, the systems were in an acquisition cycle where significant cost growth and slippages historically occurred; and (5) legislative reforms have focused on changing the requirements process to produce less systems starts, changing weapons programs management through milestone budgeting and baselining, and using multiyear contracting and existing commercial products more frequently.
Jan 21, 2021
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Close Air Support:
Actions Needed to Enhance Friendly Force Tracking Capabilities and Fully Evaluate TrainingGAO-21-99: Published: Jan 21, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2021.
Jan 19, 2021
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GPS Modernization:
DOD Continuing to Develop New Jam-Resistant Capability, But Widespread Use Remains Years AwayGAO-21-145: Published: Jan 19, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2021.
Jan 14, 2021
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Columbia Class Submarine:
Delivery Hinges on Timely and Quality Materials from an Atrophied Supplier BaseGAO-21-257: Published: Jan 14, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2021. -
Department of Defense:
Actions Needed to Improve Accounting of Intradepartmental TransactionsGAO-21-84: Published: Jan 14, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2021.
Jan 12, 2021
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DOD Critical Technologies:
Plans for Communicating, Assessing, and Overseeing Protection Efforts Should Be CompletedGAO-21-158: Published: Jan 12, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 12, 2021.
Dec 10, 2020
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Climate Resilience:
DOD Coordinates with Communities, but Needs to Assess the Performance of Related Grant ProgramsGAO-21-46: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020. -
Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations:
DOD Needs to Address Governance and Oversight Issues to Help Ensure SuperiorityGAO-21-64: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020.
Dec 2, 2020
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Navy and Marine Corps:
Services Continue Efforts to Rebuild Readiness, but Recovery Will Take Years and Sustained Management AttentionGAO-21-225T: Published: Dec 2, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 2, 2020.
Nov 20, 2020
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GAO Audits Involving DOD:
Status of Efforts to Schedule and Hold Timely Entrance ConferencesGAO-21-185R: Published: Nov 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Defense Acquisitions:
Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture Would Benefit from Defined Goals and GovernanceGAO-21-68: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
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