Reduced Performance and Increased Cost Warrant Reassessment of the Multiple Stores Ejector Rack

Highlights

GAO examined the joint Air Force and Navy development program of an aircraft bomb carrier known as the Multiple Stores Ejector Rack (MSER), for which the Air Force plans to award a contract. GAO wanted to determine how well the services had defined their requirements and assessed alternative solutions.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should require the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to justify continuation of other bomb rack programs before further funding is permitted if the Multiple Stores Ejector Rack is determined to be the preferred bomb rack.	Closed – Not Implemented The Multiple Stores Ejector Rack is no longer in production; the program was killed by the Air Force.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should instruct the Secretary of the Air Force to delay the planned modification of the Multiple Stores Ejector Rack pending the results of an evaluation of the need for the common bomb rack, whether it will meet the Air Force and Navy requirements, and whether it is cost effective.	Closed – Not Implemented The Multiple Stores Ejector Rack program was killed by the Air Force.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should require the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy to determine whether a common bomb rack is still needed, whether the Multiple Stores Ejector Rack (MSER) will meet Air Force and Navy requirements, and whether it is cost effective before authorizing a further expenditure of funds for the MSER.	Closed – Not Implemented The Multiple Stores Ejector Rack program was killed by the Air Force.

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Auditing and Financial Management

Air Force procurementAircraft componentsBomber aircraftCost overrunsInteragency relationsNaval procurementSchedule slippagesWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsMilitary forces