Air Force Procurement: Current Plans May Provide More Ground-Attack Capability Than Needed

On May 10, 1994, the Air Force submitted a revised Close Air Support plan to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defense Appropriations Subcommittees. The revised plan used less expensive night capability options than originally intended and would result in savings of $1.5 billion. These revisions were based on an Air Force study that followed GAO's recommendations to analyze: (1) the changing threat; (2) the totality of the current force structure, including other nighttime ground attack capability to defeat that threat; and (3) other less costly night-capable equipment to provide the required capabilities. For example, the revised plan recognizes the reduced threat resulting from the collapse of the Soviet Union, focuses on modifying existing nighttime capability provided by specially-equipped Block 40 F-16s, and recommends the use of low-cost night vision goggles, rather than the more expensive types of night-capable equipment originally intended for the older Block 30 F-16s.