Defense Acquisitions: Observations on Weapon Program Performance and Acquisition Reforms: Congressional TestimonyThe past two years have seen the Congress and the DoD take meaningful steps towards addressing long-standing weapon acquisition issues -- an area that has been on the high risk list since 1990. This testimony focuses on the progress DoD has made in improving the planning and execution of its weapon acquisition programs and the potential for recent acquisition reforms to improve program outcomes. The testimony includes observations about: (1) DoD's efforts to manage its portfolio of major defense acquisition programs; (2) the knowledge attained at key junctures of a subset of 42 weapon programs from the 2009 portfolio; (3) other factors that can affect program execution; and (4) DoD's implementation of recent acquisition reforms. Illus. |
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2010 assessment acceptable acquisition policy Acquisition Reform Act acquisition strategies addition aircraft analysis appropriations areas authorize average begin billion challenges collecting Combat conduct Congress consistent continue Contracting cost and schedule cost growth critical design review December decision defects defense acquisition programs delays demonstrated DOD programs DOD’s effort ensure entered environment established expect fiscal year 2010 funding held hold implementation improve increase initial integrated investments issues knowledge least major defense acquisition manufacturing maturity meet needs observations operations outcomes Overall percent performance Plan portfolio portfolio of major practices preliminary design review present processes production program management program offices programs reported proposed prototypes provides realistic reasonable recent acquisition reforms recommended reduce reliability requirements changes revised risk significant start started statement steps system development Systems Acquisition Reform technical terminations testimony Unspecified weapon programs Weapon Systems Acquisition