The Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile: Resolve Uncertainties Before Production
C-NSIAD-84-18
Published: May 07, 1984. Publicly Released: May 07, 1984.
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Highlights
GAO conducted a review to examine the potential usefulness and progress of the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) System, which the Air Force and the Navy are developing.
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 explore the feasibility of negotiating a contract modification which would provide that production options not expire until specific test objectives have been achieved in initial operational test and evaluation with F-15 and F-16 aircraft. |
The Department of Defense (DOD) concurred with this recommendation. DOD did explore the feasibility of contract modification; however, the production options expired and the contract now requires a complete production restructure.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to: (1) make a joint cost-effectiveness study using the most complete and current cost and performance estimates; and (2) use the results of that study to determine how force-level effectiveness would be affected by reductions in planned procurement rates. |
The joint cost-effectiveness study was completed in 1986. In May and June 1986 briefings to congressional staffs and the Air Force, GAO suggested that the AMRAAM planned procurement rate be reduced. Subsequently, Congress passed P.L. 99-591, which reduced the Air Force's fiscal year (FY) 1987 request from 260 missiles to 180, and the Air Force reduced its FY 1988 request from 833 missiles to 633.
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Topics
Air Force procurementConcurrencyContract optionsCost effectiveness analysisMissilesNaval procurementProduct evaluationTestingWeapons systemsMilitary forces