Concerns About Logistic Planning for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

PLRD-83-7: Published: Oct 20, 1982. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 1982.

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GAO reviewed the Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) planning for the Army's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) program which was designed to procure replacement vehicles for a portion of the armed services vehicle fleet.

GAO found that the HMMWV prototype vehicle is being procured competitively from three contractors and, after the final testing and evaluation, a single production contract will be awarded in early 1983. The first vehicles are scheduled to be ready for use in June 1984. Although the Army's approach to ILS planning for the HMMWV appears reasonable, questions remain as to whether sufficient testing and evaluation will be done in the logistic supportability area before production. Since ILS was not required during prototype development, the program takes on increased importance in evaluation supportability. The testing program has been reduced by the Army to a 5-month period, which: (1) allows little time for delay; (2) contains no formal procedures for testing the design changes to correct reliability, availability, maintainability, and durability problems; and (3) includes limited desert durability and performance testing.

Recommendation for Executive Action

  1. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

    Comments: The Army has already begun purchasing the vehicles despite test problems and violation of its own regulations. GAO is doing another review on this matter.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of the Army should test as many significant design changes as possible before the production decision and, where not possible, require that initial production testing fully evaluate the adequacy of any design changes made as a result of deficiencies identified during developmental/operational testing and assess their impact on logistics supportability.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense: Department of the Army

 

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