Weapons Acquisition: DoD Should Strengthen Policies for Assessing Technical Data Needs to Support Weapon Systems

Weapons Acquisition: DoD Should Strengthen Policies for Assessing Technical Data Needs to Support Weapon Systems
Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 58
Release: 2006
Genre:
ISBN: 9781422308653
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Army and the Air Force have encountered limitations in their sustainment plans for some fielded weapon systems because they lacked needed technical data rights. The lack of technical data rights has limited the services flexibility to make changes to sustainment plans that are aimed at achieving cost savings and meeting legislative requirements regarding depot maintenance capabilities. During our review we identified seven Army and Air Force weapon system programs where these military services encountered limitations in implementing revisions to sustainment plans C-17 aircraft, F-22 aircraft, C-130J aircraft, Up-armored High- Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), Stryker family of vehicles, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, and M4 carbine. Although the circumstances surrounding each case were unique, earlier decisions made on technical data rights during system acquisition were cited as a primary reason for the limitations subsequently encountered. As a result of the limitations encountered due to the lack of technical data rights, the services had to alter their plans for developing maintenance capability at public depots, new sources of supply to increase production, or competitive offers for the acquisition of spare parts and components to reduce sustainment costs. For example, the Air Force identified a need to develop a capability to perform maintenance on the C-17 at government depots but lacked the requisite technical data rights. Consequently, the Air Force is seeking to form partnerships with C-17 subvendors to develop its depot maintenance capability. Its efforts to form these partnerships have had mixed results, according to Air Force officials, because some sub-vendors have declined to provide the needed technical data.

Defense Acquisitions: DoD Must Prioritize Its Weapon System Acquisitions and Balance Them with Available Resources

Defense Acquisitions: DoD Must Prioritize Its Weapon System Acquisitions and Balance Them with Available Resources
Author: Michael J. Sullivan
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 19
Release: 2010
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1437914411
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Since FY 2000, the DoD has significantly increased the number of major defense acquisition programs and its overall investment in them. However, acquisition outcomes have not improved. In most cases, the programs failed to deliver capabilities when promised -- often forcing warfighters to spend additional funds on maintaining legacy systems. This testimony describes the systemic problems that have contributed to poor cost and schedule outcomes in DoD¿s acquisition of major weapon systems; recent actions DoD has taken to address these problems; and steps that Congress and DoD need to take to improve the future performance of DoD¿s major weapon programs. Illustrations.

Defense Acquisitions

Defense Acquisitions
Author: Moshe Schwartz
Publisher:
Total Pages: 25
Release: 2010-02
Genre:
ISBN: 9781437923308
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Contents: (1) Introduction; (2) Background: Statutory and Regulatory Foundation; (3) The Organizational Structure: Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System; Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution System; Defense Acquisition System; (4) Acquisition Categories; (5) Acquisition Reform; Recent Analysis of Defense Acquisitions; Major Reports Since 2000; Periodic Reports; Recent DoD Reform Efforts; Congressional Reform Efforts; (6) FY 2007¿2009 Legislative Activity: Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009; FY 2009 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act; FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act; FY 2007 John Warner National Defense Authorization Act. Charts and tables.

Defense Acquisitions

Defense Acquisitions
Author: Gene L. Dodaro
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 190
Release: 2010
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1437914691
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This report examines how well DoD is planning and executing its weapon acquisition programs. The report includes: (1) an analysis of the overall performance of DoD's 2008 portfolio of 96 major defense acquisition programs and a comparison to the portfolio performance at two other points in time -- 5 years ago and 1 year ago; (2) an analysis of current cost and schedule outcomes and knowledge attained by key junctures in the acquisition process for a subset of 47 weapon programs -- primarily in development -- from the 2008 portfolio; (3) data on other factors that could impact program stability; and (4) an update on changes in DoD's acquisition policies. Includes a one- or two-page assessment of 67 weapon programs. Illustrations.

High Risk Series

High Risk Series
Author: U S Government Accountability Office (G
Publisher: BiblioGov
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2013-06
Genre:
ISBN: 9781289125677
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GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) weapons system acquisition process, focusing on the internal control weaknesses that inhibit the development of major weapons requirements. GAO found that: (1) although the overall defense budget has declined, wasteful practices that inflate defense acquisition costs remain; (2) DOD continues to establish questionable requirements for its weapon systems, project unrealistic cost and performance estimates, develop duplicative weapons systems, and prematurely commit to production before completing testing; (3) DOD has supported efforts to eliminate overlapping and redundant weapon requirements and reduce high-risk acquisition strategies; (4) DOD has begun to reassess many of its most expense weapon programs to determine which systems should be terminated, reduced, or delayed; (5) Congress has established an independent commission to reevaluate the military services' roles and missions and examine whether the DOD acquisition structure is too complex; (6) DOD initiatives to improve its weapons acquisition process cannot be assessed because they are in various stages of implementation; and (7) DOD believes that substantive reforms in its acquisition process can be achieved due to fiscal constraints, reduced threats, dwindling forces, congressional support, and DOD commitment to reform.

Emerging Strategies in Defense Acquisitions and Military Procurement

Emerging Strategies in Defense Acquisitions and Military Procurement
Author: Burgess, Kevin
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 372
Release: 2016-07-22
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1522506004
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Military and defense organizations are a vital component to any nation. In order to maintain the standards of these sectors, new procedures and practices must be implemented. Emerging Strategies in Defense Acquisitions and Military Procurement is a pivotal reference source for the latest scholarly research on the present state of defense organizations, examining reforms and solutions necessary to overcome current limitations and make vast improvements to their infrastructure. Highlighting methodologies and theoretical foundations that promote more effective practices in defense acquisition, this book is ideally designed for academicians, practitioners, researchers, upper-level students, and professionals engaged in defense industries.