Defense Acquisition: Fleet Ballistic Missile Program Offers Lessons for Successful Programs

The Fleet Ballistic Missile system is the U.S. sea-based deterrent against the Soviet nuclear threat. Nuclear-powered submarines carrying nuclear- tipped Polaris A-1 ballistic missiles began operational patrols in 1960. In March 1990, fourth-generation submarines began operation with sixth-generation Trident II D-5 missiles. The Navys Fleet Ballistic Missile program is one of the few major weapon system acquisitions that, over the years, has consistently met or bettered its cost, schedule, and performance goals. GAO was asked to determine 1 what features have contributed to the Fleet Ballistic Missile programs success and 2 whether those features were present in other selected defense acquisition programs. GAO also determined to what extent the six features identified by the Packard Commission as typical of successful commercial programs could be found in the selected defense acquisition programs.