Accession Number:

AD1122887

Title:

Defense Acquisitions: Space System Acquisition Risks and Keys to Addressing Them

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Technical Report]

Corporate Author:

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Chaplain, Cristina

Report Date:

2006-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

8

Abstract:

On April 6, 2006, we testified before the subcommittee on the Department of Defenses DOD space acquisitions. In fiscal year 2007, DOD expects to spend nearly 7 billion to acquire space-based capabilities to support current military and other government operations as well as to enable DOD to transform the way it collects and disseminates information, gathers data on its adversaries, and attacks targets. Despite its growing investment in space, however, DODs space system acquisitions have experienced problems over the past several decades that have driven up costs by hundreds of millions, even billions, of dollars stretched schedules by years and increased performance risks. In some cases, capabilities have not been delivered to the warfighter after decades of development. Within this context, you requested that we provide additional comments regarding the need for better program management, space acquisition policy, and DODs Space Radar and Transformational Satellite Communications System acquisitions. Your specific questions and our answers are discussed below.

Descriptors:

• reconnaissance satellites
• space systems
• artificial satellites
• best practices
• product development
• test and evaluation
• acquisition
• air force
• space based
• manufacturing
• military acquisition
• united states
• cost estimates
• governments
• program management
• standards
• united states government
• weapon systems
• business administration
• congress

Subject Categories:

• Astronautics
• Economics and Cost Analysis

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]