Unmanned aircraft systems
Subtitle: new DOD programs can learn from past efforts to craft better and less risky acquisition strategies : report to the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate
By: United States Government Accountability Office.
Contributors: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services.
Publisher: U.S. Government Accountability Office
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 36
Subjects: United States. -- Dept. of Defense -- Procurement.; Drone aircraft -- United States.; Airplanes, Military -- United States.; Predator (Drone aircraft); United States -- Armed Forces -- Weapons systems.
Other titles: Unmanned aircraft systems :; New DOD programs can learn from past efforts to craft better and less risky acquisition strategies; New Department of Defense programs can learn from past efforts to craft better and less risky acquisition strategies
Description: This Government Accountability Office (GAO) report addresses the request to review the Department of Defense's (DOD) three largest unmanned aircraft programs in terms of cost. Specifically, GAO assessed the Global Hawk and Predator programs' acquisition strategies and identified lessons from these two programs that can be applied to the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program, the next generation of unmanned aircraft. GAO recommends that DOD (1) limit Global Hawk production until the program demonstrates an integrated system and develops a new business case to justify future investments and (2) develop a sound business case and acquisition strategy for J-UCAS and follow-on efforts to ensure cost and schedule goals are met. DOD did not concur with GAO's Global Hawk recommendations because it believes it is taking appropriate measures to manage risk.
Notes: Cover title.

"March 2006."

Includes "Highlights of GAO-06-447" inside.

"GAO-06-447."

Includes bibliographical references and a bibliography of  "Related GAO Products" (p. 35-36).

Also available via Internet from the GAO web site (http://www.gao.gov/). Address as of 5/01/06: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06447.pdf; current access available via PURL.