Navy's F/A-18 Expected To Be an Effective Performer but Problems Still Face the Program
MASAD-82-20
Published: Feb 26, 1982. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 1982.
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Highlights
The F/A-18 naval strike fighter development is near completion and GAO provided Congress with a status report.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to accelerate implementation of the Navy proposed cost reduction initiatives estimated to save $1.2 to $4.6 billion. |
Development of the aircraft has been completed, and it is in full production.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to determine the value to be derived from the Board of Inspection and Survey Trials. Unnecessary redundancy between the trials and testing already accomplished should be eliminated. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to delete, to the extent possible, mission-essential equipment from training aircraft, thereby saving substantial procurement, as well as maintenance cost. |
The agency did not concur with the recommendation. GAO believes, however, that it is valid.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to implement competitive procurement of test program sets for an estimated savings of $70 million and explore other situations where competition could be used. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to allocate aircraft hardware between production and trainer development and ensure transfer of flight control system data to permit timely trainer development. |
Aircraft hardware is now being produced in sufficient numbers for both production and trainer development.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to incorporate both air-to-ground and electronic counter-countermeasures capability into the operation flight trainer as part of its current development. |
Development of the operation flight trainer has been completed.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Navy to preclude future reductions in F/A-18 operational readiness due to delayed automatic test equipment. The Navy should (1) evaluate the cost of additional spares to offset the lack of test capability; (2) select the most cost-effective alternative; and (3) budget to adequately support the selected course of action. |
Automatic test equipment has been developed. This equipment has been provided to operational groups and is being used to test aircraft components.
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Topics
Cost effectiveness analysisCost overrunsFighter aircraftFlight trainingLogisticsNaval aircraftProgram evaluationResearch and development costsTestingMilitary forces