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B-2 Bomber: Additional Costs to Correct Deficiencies and Make Improvements

NSIAD-98-152 Published: Jun 16, 1998. Publicly Released: Jun 16, 1998.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the total acquisition costs of the B-2A bomber, focusing on: (1) deficiencies that must be corrected to achieve Air Force objectives for the B-2A; (2) additional costs to correct the deficiencies; and (3) the B-2A modification schedule.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Air Force to identify remaining efforts to achieve full operational capability, the costs to complete these efforts, and the fiscal year (FY) funding requirements not currently in the FY 1999 President's Budget for the B-2A program.
Closed – Implemented
In March 1999, the Air Force issued a report to Congress defining improvements needed for long-range bombers and the estimated costs. That report satisfied the intent of this recommendation by providing comprehensive information about the needs for future modifications and improvements to B-2 aircraft.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should provide this information to Congress with the FY 2000 President's Budget in the form of a comprehensive plan to complete the B-2A program.
Closed – Implemented
This recommendation defined when the plan mentioned in the first recommendation in this report should be provided to the Congress. DOD submit its plans for the entire bomber force as part of the FY2000 budget request, which is consistent with the recommendation.

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Topics

Air Force procurementBomber aircraftConcurrencyDefense capabilitiesFuture budget projectionsMilitary cost controlOperational testingWeapons systemsU.S. Air ForceAircraft acquisition program