Defense acquisitions

Alternate Titles

• Improved business case is needed for Future Combat System's successful outcome
• FCS business case

Description

As a result of a substantial investment of time and money, the Navy has reduced the risks associated with a number of essential technologies, including the nuclear propulsion and electric plant. At this time, several technical risks that could lead to increased construction costs and potentially result in capability reductions still remain. In particular, the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), the advanced arresting gear, and the dual band radar face key tests with little margin for resolving problems before they begin to disrupt the optimal CVN 78 construction schedule and increase ship costs. If key systems arrive late, more labor cost may be incurred because of inefficient work-arounds and schedule delays. EMALS and the advanced arresting gear are vital to meeting key capabilities and must be delivered to the shipyard on time to maintain the construction schedule. The dual band radar enables a smaller island structure on the deck of the carrier, facilitating the ship's increased sortie generation rate. All three systems have experienced schedule delays because of technical and other challenges.

Subjects

Links

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Other Editions

• Defense acquisitions: plans need to allow enough time to demonstrate capability of first littoral combat ships : report to Congressional CommitteesU.S. Government Accountability Office2005-01-01
• Defense acquisitionsGAO2006
• Analysis of processes used to evaluate Active Protection Systems, report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of RepresentativesUnited States Government Accountability Office2007-01-01
• Defense acquisitions, Department of Defense's R&D budget requests to Congress do not provide consistent, complete, and clear informationU.S. Govt. Accountability Office (441 G St., NW, Rm. LM, Washington, D.C. 20548)2007-01-01
• Navy faces challenges constructing the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford within budgetU.S. Govt. Accountability Office2007-01-01
• Navy faces challenges constructing the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford within budgetU.S. Govt. Accountability Office2007-01-01