Status of the Air Force's C-17 Aircraft Program

GAO discussed the C-17 aircraft program, focusing on cost increases, schedule problems, and the risks of concurrency. GAO found that: (1) the Secretary of Defense restructured the C-17 program significantly by reducing the program from 210 to 120 production aircraft, the fiscal year (FY) 1991 budget request from 6 to 2 aircraft, and advanced procurement funds from 12 to 6 aircraft for FY 1992; (2) the restructuring will reduce the President's budget request for FY 1991 and FY 1992; (3) the reductions will allow more time for flight testing before the production rate increases, reducing concurrency; and (4) the Air Force is refining the reduction by calculating specific cost and schedule impacts.