(Letter Report, 06/16/1998, GAO/NSIAD-98-152, updated 10/30/2001).
[
Text of this report was taken for markup from the
military
analysis site of the Federation
of American Scientists and is also available in the online
libraries of the U.S.
General Accounting Office.
It is included on this site because in December of 1995 I left
Federal Systems, then a part of the Loral Corporation, because I
was being asked to implicitly certify that the defensive
electronics software for the B-2A achieved the demanding
requirements that the contract called for, and in several
tests of my design which had been approved by Federal Systems"
customers, Northrop Corporation and the USAF, the system failed.
Moreover, Loral management was attempting to "cook the books",
to make conditions of the testing so favorable, a positive
outcome was inevitable. This behavior was part of a pattern
of behavior at Loral FS, previously IBM FSD, over several
years, specific to the B-2 Program. At one time, a manager
directed us to stop testing even though there were deficiencies,
and he did this in writing. I had indicated my concerns to
management and to legal counsel during that period, as well
as alerting the House Arms Services Committee of Congress. I tried working with and through systems engineers but
in the end they were unwilling to put their careers on the line. I tried to convince management to ask for a waiver or to
ask the government for weakened specifications, but they said no.
I also have available another B-2A Summary Report from 1998.
One should also note that recent reports by the Pentagon's own OSD/DOT&E, the weapons system evaluation and test organization, show there has been next to no improvement in the B-2A's capability, and particularly in its Defensive Management Subsystem, the portion which Federal Systems designed and develops and I once worked on. The problems and questions apparently continue, as of 30th October 2001, despite use of the B-2 over Kosovo and now over Afghanistan. Both occasions were marked, in part, by badly mistargeted bomb drops, although it is not possible from unclassified sources to tell whether targeting coordinates or the B-2 itself were at fault.
Note also that counterstealth measures are gradually being developed, although I know of no specific tests whose results have been published. The most promising techniques appear to be, according to my readings:
In particular, in governmental FY 2000, the Pentagon's own test and evaluation departments noted the following:
Mission Survivability: AFOTEC assessed the B-2 as being survivable against the projected threat on the assumption that appropriate mission planning, force packaging, and tactics are employed. DOT&E concurs with the Air Force's assessment but notes that these capabilities have yet to be delivered and tested fully. In its current state, the B-2's DMS is operationally unsatisfactory. Problems include inaccurate information, a cluttered display, and an excessive workload to operate the system. The DMS is supposed to identify and locate unknown threats that occur during a mission; however it fails to provide the aircrew with timely, concise threat indications in all circumstances. Operational software, which corrected a number of DMS deficiencies found during IOT&E, completed testing in April 1998 and is now installed. Additional software changes are scheduled to be available in 2000. These software changes are intended to provide capabilities that are useful but less than expected in the original defensive system design. The DMS does have one useful function, in that it provides the aircrew with information on known threat locations included in computer files prior to the mission. However, costly upgrades for new computer processors are required if the DMS is to meet original expectations. Presently, there is no funding or current plan to enhance the B-2 with expensive upgrades.
What follows is the text of the original 1998 GAO report which can, at this point, be only called prescient.
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the total acquisition costs of the B-2A bomber, focusing on: (1) deficiencies that must be corrected to achieve Air Force objectives for the B-2A; (2) additional costs to correct the deficiencies; and (3) the B-2A modification schedule.
GAO noted that: (1) the Air Force evaluated the B-2A capability to meet several broad objectives--strike rapidly, sustaining operations, deploy to forward locations, survive in hostile environments, and accurately deliver weapons; (2) the November 1997 operational test reports concluded that B-2As, in the block 30 configuration, are operationally effective, but with several important deficiencies that limit the aircraft's ability to fully meet those objectives as planned; (3) the test reports identify four deficiencies: (a) incomplete development of the automated ground mission planning system, which is needed to rapidly plan and carry out B-2A strike missions; (b) unsatisfactory performance of the defensive avionics system, which is used to provide enemy threat information to the crews and increase their survivability in certain situations; (c) inadequate reliability and maintainability of low observable materials and structures, reducing the ability to sustain the defined pace of operations while maintaining a high degree of survivability for conventional B-2A missions; and (d) lack of environmental shelters to maintain low observable materials and to protect the aircraft from certain weather conditions during deployment; (4) the fiscal year 1999 B-2A cost estimate identifies the cost to complete the B-2A program for the block 30 configuration at $44.3 billion then-year dollars; (5) included in this figure is funding to correct or improve some, but not all, of the deficiencies listed above; (6) for example, the estimate does not include the additional costs that would be incurred if defensive avionics were to be required to achieve the originally planned capability, which Department of Defense officials said is no longer required at this time; (7) however, it does include funding for software upgrades to improve the system performance, which meets current operational objectives; (8) further, it does not include the cost to improve low observable materials, which are needed to sustain the pace of B-2A operations, and to provide for a sufficient number of deployment shelters to accommodate repairs to B-2As; (9) the estimate also excludes costs to buy spare parts that are being identified to support the B-2A's nuclear mission; (10) modifications of B-2As to the block 30 configuration have not been accomplished on schedule; (11) four modified aircraft were delivered as of April 1998--three later than scheduled and one ahead of schedule; and (12) according to the Air Force, the contractor has had difficulty hiring enough personnel to achieve the schedule.
--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------
REPORTNUM: NSIAD-98-152
TITLE: B-2 Bomber: Additional Costs to Correct Deficiencies and
Make Improvements
DATE: 06/16/98
SUBJECT: Weapons systems
Air Force procurement
Bomber aircraft
Defense capabilities
Future budget projections
Concurrency
Military cost control
IDENTIFIER: B-2A Aircraft
B-1B Aircraft
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Cover
================================================================ COVER
Report to Congressional Committees
June 1998
B-2 BOMBER - ADDITIONAL COSTS TO
CORRECT DEFICIENCIES AND MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS
GAO/NSIAD-98-152
B-2 Bomber
(707282)
Abbreviations
=============================================================== ABBREV
AFMSS - Air Force Mission Support System
DOD - Department of Defense
Letter
=============================================================== LETTER
B-278432
June 16, 1998
Congressional Committees
The conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 requires us to report to the congressional defense committees at regular intervals on the total acquisition costs of the B-2A bomber through the completion of the production program. The last production aircraft was delivered in November 1997, and all aircraft are scheduled to be updated to the latest defined (block 30) configuration by July 2000.\1 This report discusses deficiencies that must be corrected to achieve Air Force objectives for the B-2A, additional costs to correct the deficiencies, and the B-2A modification schedule.\2
-------------------- \1 The B-2A's final configuration is defined as a block 30 aircraft. The Air Force accepted B-2s in two other configurations, a block 10 training aircraft and block 20 interim capability aircraft, which all will be upgraded to the block 30 configuration. \2 Appendix II contains a list of related GAO reports on the B-2 program.
The Air Force began development of the B-2A in 1981 and reported on June 30, 1997, after 16 years, that the development and the initial operational test and evaluation had been completed. The Air Force reports of the initial operational tests were completed in November 1997.
In 1986, the Air Force estimated that B-2A development could be completed for $14.5 billion, including a 4-year, 3,600-hour flight test program scheduled at that time to end in 1993. The flight test program ended June 30, 1997, and the estimated cost of the development program had grown to over $24 billion and the flight test program to about 5,000 flight test hours over 8 years. The development and testing programs were extended because of Air Force changes in the B-2 requirements and various technical problems.
Major changes and problems contributing to the delays included (1) making the B-2A's primary mission conventional rather than nuclear; (2) redesigning the aircraft to satisfy an added requirement to penetrate adversary air space at low altitudes; (3) difficulty in manufacturing test aircraft, resulting in late delivery of partially complete test aircraft; (4) difficulties achieving acceptable radar cross section readings on test aircraft, which resulted in significant redesigning and retesting of certain components; and (5) correction of deficiencies in the aft deck structure because of the unanticipated effects of engine exhaust.
Even though numerous problems hindered the scheduled completion of B-2A development, production began with no flight testing having been completed. This resulted in substantial overlap of development and production. Test and production aircraft were delivered that did not fully meet the Air Force requirements, and a 5-year post-delivery modification program was initiated to update all aircraft to the block 30 configuration. Since production began in 1986, the planned number of B-2As was reduced from 133 to 21 aircraft and both the total development and the average unit procurement costs increased. Table 1 shows the change in estimated total and unit cost from 1986 to 1998.
Table 1
Comparison of B-2A Program Total and
Unit Costs Between 1986 and 1998
(Millions of then-year dollars)
1986 (133 1998 (21
aircraft) aircraft)
-------------- --------------
Total Unit Total Unit
Acquisition element cost cost cost cost
-------------------------------------- ------ ------ ------ ------
Development $14,50 $24,70
0 0
Procurement $43,70 $329 $19,60 $933
0 0
======================================================================
Total $58,20 $438 $44,30 $2,110
0 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The last two of the 21 B-2As were delivered to the Air Force in the block 30 configuration. The major effort remaining in the B-2A acquisition program is modification of the other 19 B-2As to the block 30 configuration, scheduled for completion in July 2000. Through April 1998, six B-2As have been delivered in, or modified to, the block 30 configuration and were operational at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Ultimately the Air Force plans to have 21 B-2As, of which 16 will be available for missions (two squadrons of 8 aircraft), and 5 will be in various maintenance and repair cycles.
The Air Force evaluated the B-2A capability to meet several broad objectives--strike rapidly, sustain operations, deploy to forward locations, survive in hostile environments, and accurately deliver weapons. The November 1997 operational test reports concluded that B-2As, in the block 30 configuration, are operationally effective, but with several important deficiencies that limit the aircraft's ability to fully meet those objectives as planned.
The test reports identify four deficiencies:
The fiscal year 1999 B-2A cost estimate identifies the cost to complete the B-2A program for the block 30 configuration at $44.3 billion then-year dollars. Included in this figure is funding to correct or improve some, but not all, of the deficiencies listed above. For example, the estimate does not include the additional costs that would be incurred if defensive avionics were to be required to achieve the originally planned capability, which Department of Defense (DOD) officials said is no longer required at this time. However, it does include funding for software upgrades to improve the system performance, which meets current operational objectives. Further, it does not include the cost to improve low observable materials, which are needed to sustain the pace of B-2A operations, and to provide for a sufficient number of deployment shelters to accommodate repairs to B-2As. The estimate also excludes costs to buy spare parts that are being identified to support the B-2A's nuclear mission.
Modifications of B-2As to the block 30 configuration have not been accomplished on schedule. Four modified aircraft were delivered as of April 1998--three later than scheduled and one ahead of schedule. According to the Air Force, the contractor has had difficulty hiring enough personnel to achieve the schedule.
To test the operational performance of the B-2A, the Air Force measured B-2A performance against five broad operational objectives that were derived from documented Air Force operational requirements and concepts related to nuclear and conventional missions. Figure 1 identifies these operational objectives and the key elements of each that were included in the operational testing.
Figure 1: Key Elements of the Broad Operational Objectives Included in Operational Tests (See figure in printed edition.)
Although test results indicate that B-2As generally met operational objectives, four deficiencies were identified during testing that will limit or, under some circumstances, change the planned concepts for using the B-2As and slow its operational pace. These relate to mission planning, defensive avionics, low observable materials and deployment.
As the B-2A matures, numerous minor problems identified in the test reports are scheduled to be corrected or improved based on their relative priorities. These include corrections of minor software and hardware deficiencies, improvements to make crew operations easier or faster, improvements of selected radar modes, and relocation of certain buttons or displays. The corrections and improvements involve flight operation as well as maintenance and support of the aircraft.
Ground mission planning, which is still in development, is important to the successful employment of the B-2A because very precise mission routes must be planned to maximize the benefits of the aircraft's low observable features. Mission planning for the B-2A, done with the automated Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS), currently takes more time than planned. This will limit the Air Force's ability to rapidly strike targets and sustain operations.
The goal of the AFMSS development program is to produce a mission planning system that can provide specific B-2A mission plans in 8 hours. Testing as of June 30, 1997, concluded that the system frequently malfunctioned, was not flexible or user friendly, and was complex and time consuming to use. Air Force operators at Whiteman Air Force Base told us that the developmental version of AFMSS had so many failures that they estimated it would take 60 hours to plan a conventional mission and 192 hours to plan a nuclear mission.
The AFMSS is an acquisition program separate from the B-2A and is being developed to support all Air Force combat aircraft. Interface of the AFMSS with the B-2A began in 1994. According to the operational test report, AFMSS is a complex system made up of separate subsystems developed by different contractors. The Air Force has received various developmental versions of AFMSS subsystems, and additional upgrades to software and hardware are planned in fiscal years 1998 and 1999. The Air Force expects these upgrades to support preparation of mission plans in 8 hours by the third quarter of fiscal year 1999.
Air Force officials said the cost of making the defensive system meet originally planned capability is unaffordable at this time. Air Force officials told us that all the functions originally planned for the system are not required to successfully carry out the planned B-2A missions. The operational test report further stated that, although the defensive system is rated unsatisfactory, the system's deficiencies do not prevent planning and executing B-2A missions. The test report indicated that the B-2A's low observability to adversary threat systems permits use of other effective tactics that could ensure its effective employment.
The defensive system is to supposed to provide the crew information on enemy threat systems to enhance B-2A survivability. Known threat locations are included in computer files prior to the mission. The system is to correlate these with the actual threats as the B-2A flies its mission, but it is also to identify and locate unknown threats that pop-up during a mission. However, this system does not work as planned, limiting the utility of information provided the crew during critical portions of expected B-2 missions. For example, test reports indicate that the defensive system provided inaccurate or cluttered information to the crew and had unacceptably high workloads for the operators.
The number and significance of problems with the defensive system were not identified until near the end of the flight test program, leaving Air Force program managers little time to correct problems. Flight testing, where most of the problems were discovered, did not begin for the defensive system until February 1993, almost 4 years after the flight test program started in July 1989 and almost 2 years after other avionics began flight testing in June 1991. According to Air Force officials and an independent review team, several issues contributed to the deficiencies and their discovery late in the developmental and test processes. These reasons included (1) development and testing began late, (2) successful early laboratory tests could not be repeated in flight tests, (3) test results from flight tests were not completely analyzed before tests were continued, (4) the contract provided incentives to move ahead with development rather than correct problems, (5) there was too much confidence that upgrades to computer software would solve the problems, and (6) there were inadequate engineering controls to prevent the overoptimistic view and approach to this development effort.
The Air Force's cost estimate does not include the cost of correcting all deficiencies but does cover some improvements in the defensive system. The Air Force plans to develop software changes that are scheduled to be available for use by 2000, if tests demonstrate the changes are effective in providing a useful capability. Air Force officials indicated some changes have been tested by operational crews with good success. These software changes are intended to provide capabilities that are useful but less than were expected in the original defensive system design. The Air Force believes these changes will meet their requirements. To achieve the original design would require more costly upgrades, including new computer processors. Expensive hardware upgrades are not included in current Air Force plans to enhance the B-2A.
Historically, defensive avionics have experienced significant problems during development. The B-1B bomber had serious deficiencies with its defensive avionics and the Air Force is still working to provide an effective defensive capability for the B-1B. Other defensive avionics programs, like the Air Force's ALQ-135 jammer and the Navy's Airborne Self Protection Jammer, also experienced costly development problems.
Low observable materials and features on the B-2A frequently fail, requiring high amounts of maintenance. They also have time consuming and environmentally controlled repair processes and long cure times for the materials repaired. This reduces the time aircraft are available for operational use, which keeps mission capable rates below the Air Force requirement. These problems increase the amount of time it takes to prepare a B-2A for its next combat flight, potentially reducing the number of sorties that could be flown in a given period of time.
During operational testing, low observable materials and features accounted for 40 percent of unscheduled maintenance and 31 percent of the maintenance hours to repair the aircraft. Aircraft operating at Whiteman Air Force Base experienced results similar to those in the operational test. During a visit to Whiteman Air Force Base, we observed a block 20 B-2A aircraft after a 10-hour flight. The aircraft had damaged tape, caulk, paint, and heat tiles, all low observable materials. In addition, we observed hydraulic fluid leaks beneath the aircraft that further damaged tape and caulk. The Air Force is incorporating some new low observable tape materials into the block 30 aircraft, which should reduce some maintenance; however, according to Air Force officials this improvement will not be adequate to achieve the operational pace currently planned for the aircraft.
In addition to the frequent failure of these materials, the processes to repair them are time consuming and require an environmentally controlled repair facility. Cure times on some of the low observable tapes and caulks, items that most frequently fail, can be as long as 72 hours, but most materials require 24 or more hours.
The poor durability and extensive maintenance required of low observable materials is an important factor keeping the B-2As from achieving desired mission capable rates--the Air Force measure of an aircraft fleet's availability to perform its assigned missions. At maturity, the Air Force goal for a mission capable rate is 77 percent. On average, the mission capable rate in calendar year 1997, when including the effects of low observable features, was 36 percent, less than half the goal.
The Air Force has prepared a comprehensive plan to develop, test, and install new and improved low observable materials, and to improve repair processes, reduce cure times, and develop new diagnostic tools that should allow the B-2A to meet operational requirements. The plan extends through 2005 and shows that funds required for research and development, procurement, and operations and maintenance could total about $190 million, of which $144 million is not in the current cost estimate.
The operational test report states that the block 30 B-2A aircraft must be sheltered to protect it from weather and provide a suitable environment in which to maintain low observables. The Air Force is studying options for providing shelters, including the purchase of portable shelters and use of existing facilities.
The Air Force plans to buy a portable deployment shelter as a test article to determine if the portable shelters will be adequate to protect and maintain the B-2A's low observable features. If the Air Force buys the shelters, at a minimum it will require 17--1 training shelter and 1 operational shelter for each of the 16 primary mission aircraft.
Air Force officials stated they are dedicated to buying the deployment shelters but have not determined how many shelters are needed to support B-2A deployments or the shelter configuration. In addition, they said funding sources have not been identified, but the shelters will likely cost a total of between $15 and $25 million, depending upon the quantity purchased.
Air Force officials said they have begun to practice deploying the B-2A and it is likely additional requirements will be identified when this happens. The Air Force completed one exercise, deploying two B-2As to Guam, in March 1998, and plans two more in 1998. Air Force officials advised us that the B-2As performed well in the March 1998 deployment, but an official report has not been issued on the results as of April 1998.
The fiscal year 1999 B-2A cost estimate indicates it will cost $44.3 billion then-year dollars to complete development, procurement, and modification of the B-2A program. However, the Air Force will incur additional costs if it plans to correct the deficiencies identified during testing and achieve the full operational capability originally planned for the B-2A. At this time, there is no comprehensive plan that identifies the efforts required to achieve the full B-2A capability, the likely cost of these efforts, or a funding plan. Further, the Air Force has not yet determined all requirements needed to achieve some capabilities.
The fiscal year 1999 B-2A cost estimate indicates the cost to complete development, procurement, and modification of the B-2A program is $44.3 billion then-year dollars. Through fiscal year 1998, the Air Force has been appropriated $43.3 billion, or 98 percent.
Air Force estimates show the funding required from fiscal years 1999 to 2003 to complete development is $446.7 million and to complete procurement and modifications from fiscal years 1999 to 2005 is $599.4 million. Table 2 shows the major elements of costs for which funding is to be requested in fiscal years 1999 and beyond.
Table 2
Planned Use of Funds for the B-2A
Program from Fiscal Years 1999 Through
2005
(Then-year dollars in millions)
Development
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Northrop Grumman $332.9
Armament 0.2
Mission planning 23.9
Government test 65.3
Other government test 5.9
Direct release 18.5
======================================================================
Total development $446.7
Procurement
Air vehicle $91.4
Equipment/data/training 34.5
Interim contractor support 103.1
Spares 119.6
Retrofit 92.6
Program management 30.0
Other government costs 32.0
Software support 96.2
======================================================================
Total procurement $599.4
======================================================================
Total estimated cost $1,046
As discussed above, testing identified four deficiencies that will require additional costs if the Air Force plans to fully correct all deficiencies. In addition to the cost increases needed for defensive avionics, low observable materials, and support needed for deployment, the Air Force will also incur costs to procure spares to support the nuclear mission of the B-2A. Table 3 shows estimated costs to fix deficiencies that are not in the current cost estimate as well as areas of other potential cost increases not yet fully defined by the Air Force.
Table 3
Estimated Cost to Correct Deficiencies
and Improve B-2A Capabilities
Estimated costs not in
Deficiency estimate Comments
---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Defensive avionics $0\a New computer
processors, needed to
provide full
capability would be
costly but are
currently not planned
for acquisition.
Low observable $144.0 million Air Force said it
features plans to use $54
million of the fiscal
year 1998 funds added
by Congress to help
fund some of the $144
million in
improvements planned
for low observable
materials.
Deployment and $15 to $25 million The Air Force is now
shelters beginning to practice
B-2A deployments to
identify support
equipment shortfalls,
which could result in
additional costs.
Spares Not yet determined by The Air Force must
Air Force still identify and
acquire spare parts to
support the nuclear
mission. Costs
estimates and funding
plans are not expected
to be available until
June 1998 or later.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
\a $34 million is included in the cost estimate to provide a limited
capability. No additional costs are planned.
The Air Force program to upgrade 19 B-2A aircraft to the block 30 configuration is falling behind schedule and further delays are possible. In addition, modified aircraft have been delivered with significant numbers of deficiencies.
Air Force officials said Northrop Grumman has not been able to hire adequate numbers of workers; therefore, modifications have been delayed. Both the Air Force and Northrop Grumman were trying to complete modifications based on schedules that were 3 to 6 months ahead of the contract schedule. Because of delays and problems, these accelerated schedules have been discarded. As of April 1998, Northrop Grumman had delivered three modified aircraft later than, and one modified aircraft earlier than, the contract schedule. The Air Force is assessing schedule performance and studying the funding implications of a schedule slip. At this time, the Air Force believes adequate funds are available to complete the modifications.
The Air Force is also assessing a planned schedule change that could significantly delay the modification program for one aircraft. This change would be to accommodate the need to provide an aircraft for flight testing planned upgrades. Until the assessment is complete, Air Force officials said it is not possible to determine if there will be a cost impact on the modification program.
All four block 30 aircraft delivered from the modification line have a significant number of deficiencies. Air Force officials stated that some of these deficiencies are not operationally critical and will be corrected during regular scheduled maintenance activities. They said a team will be located at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to correct some of the deficiencies, and others will be corrected during normal aircraft maintenance cycles to maintain the aircraft in active operational service. The four aircraft have from 30 to 46 deficiencies each and, to assure corrections are made, the Air Force has withheld contractor payments totaling $24.5 million for two of the delivered aircraft.
DOD should determine the nature and cost of those efforts that remain to be accomplished to bring the B-2A into compliance with operational requirements established by the Air Force. This report identifies various deficiencies that are unresolved and indicates the Air Force is still identifying other requirements that may require further effort and funding. We recommend that the Secretary of Defense direct the Secretary of the Air Force to identify remaining efforts to achieve full operational capability, the costs to complete these efforts, and the fiscal year funding requirements not currently in the fiscal year 1999 President's Budget for the B-2A program. We further recommend that this information be provided to the Congress with the fiscal year 2000 President's Budget in the form of a comprehensive plan to complete the B-2A program.
AGENCY COMMENTS
In commenting on a draft of this report, DOD partially concurred with the recommendations. DOD stated the B-2A is projected to meet full operational capability by the third quarter fiscal year 1999 as a "baseline program" within currently programmed funding. DOD, therefore, states no additional reporting is required on baseline requirements. DOD defines the baseline program as being a block 30 aircraft. The DOD position assumes all operational problems discussed in this report will be resolved without additional cost, but, until these deficiencies have been proven to be corrected, some cost uncertainty remains. In addition, as this report points out, the Air Force has accepted the block 30 aircraft with less performance in some areas than originally planned in the baseline program.
DOD agreed there is a need to identify to Congress future efforts and funding requirements to upgrade current B-2As. DOD said it is developing a long-range plan for upgrades to the bomber force and that funding requirements will be included in the normal budgeting process. This action is consistent with our recommendations. DOD's comments are presented in their entirety in appendix I. DOD provided additional technical comments, which have been incorporated in this report, as appropriate.
To identify deficiencies with the operational performance of the B-2A, we reviewed key test reports and summaries prepared by the B-2A Combined Test Force, which conducted the developmental test and evaluations, and the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Command, which conducted the initial operational test and evaluations. We also reviewed assessments of the B-2A operational testing prepared by the Office of Secretary of Defense Operational Test and Evaluation office and we reviewed various program management and engineering reports that summarized performance and testing efforts being conducted on the B-2A program. We interviewed Air Force engineers, test managers, and program management officials to determine the nature and extent of problems that were identified. We also discussed deficiencies identified during testing and current operational experience and performance of operational B-2As with Air Force officials at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
To identify cost issues and plans to correct deficiencies, we reviewed the available planning documents that identified corrective plans and funding requirements for selected deficiencies. We reviewed B-2A program office annual cost and budgetary estimates, financial and management reports, contract cost reports, program schedules and plans, and other documents. We also interviewed Air Force officials in the B-2A program and at Air Combat Command to determined cost and funding plans to correct deficiencies and complete efforts necessary to provide a fully operational B-2A aircraft.
To identify the status of the block 30 modification schedule, we reviewed the contract and planning schedules for the block 30 modification process, delivery documents identifying the delivery date and number of deficiencies on the delivered aircraft, and reports showing planned and actual manning at the contractor's modification facility. We also discussed with Air Force managers of the modification process the reasons for delayed deliveries, changing schedules, and the plans to correct remaining deficiencies.
We performed our review from September 1997 to May 1998 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
We are sending copies of this report to the Secretaries of Defense and the Air Force, the Director of Office of Management and Budget, and other interested parties. We will make copies available to others upon request.
Please contact me on (202) 512-4841 if you or your staff have any questions concerning this report. Major contributors to this report are listed in appendix III.
Louis J. Rodrigues
Director, Defense Acquisitions Issues
List of Congressional Committees The Honorable Strom Thurmond Chairman The Honorable Carl Levin Ranking Minority Member Committee on Armed Services United States Senate The Honorable Ted Stevens Chairman The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye Ranking Minority Member Subcommittee on Defense Committee on Appropriations United States Senate The Honorable Floyd Spence Chairman The Honorable Ike Skelton Ranking Minority Member Committee on National Security House of Representatives The Honorable C. W. Bill Young Chairman The Honorable John P. Murtha Ranking Minority Member Subcommittee on National Security Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives
(See figure in printed edition.)Appendix I COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (See figure in printed edition.)
======================================================== Appendix II NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIVISION, WASHINGTON, D.C. David E. Cooper Robert D. Murphy CHICAGO FIELD OFFICE Michael J. Hazard Marvin E. Bonner
B-2 Bomber: Cost and Operational Issues (GAO/NSIAD-97-181, Aug. 14, 1997). B-2 Bomber: Status of Efforts to Acquire 21 Operational Aircraft (GAO/NSIAD-97-11, Oct. 2, 1996). B-2 Bomber: Status of Cost, Development, and Production (GAO/NSIAD-95-164, Aug. 4, 1995). B-2 Bomber: Cost to Complete 20 Aircraft is Uncertain (GAO/NSIAD-94-217, Sept. 8, 1994). *** End of document. ***