Acquisition woes redux

A depressingly dependable theme for the past couple of decades
continues:


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009...-Programs.html

GAO: Military Faces Satellite Gaps
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 20, 2009
Filed at 8:33 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Poor planning and unproven technologies on key
Pentagon space programs have led to large cost overruns, delays and
possible gaps in military satellite capabilities, according to
congressional investigators. [ http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09705t.pdf
]

Delays of at least seven years in some satellite programs have led to
potential gaps in protected military communications, navigation tools,
missile warning systems and other areas, a Government Accountability
Office official told lawmakers Wednesday.

''Programs focus on advocacy at the expense of realism and sound
management,'' Cristina Chaplain, director of acquisition and sourcing
for the GAO, said in testimony prepared for a Senate Armed Services
subcommittee. ''This year it is also becoming more apparent that space
acquisition problems are leading to potential gaps in the delivery of
critical capabilities.''

The GAO examined seven major space programs including Boeing Co.'s
Global Positioning System and a communication satellite built by
Lockheed Martin Corp. The estimated costs of those programs has
increased by $10.9 billion from initial estimates for fiscal years
2008 through 2013.

The Pentagon's tendency to underestimate costs while including
ambitious requirements and new, unproven technologies caused the
significant cost growth and schedule delays, Chaplain said.

Because of excessive costs, the Pentagon had to scrap programs in
development including a competition between Boeing and Lockheed to
build a $26 billion transformational satellite designed to provide
military communications.

Gary Payton, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space
programs, said while the Pentagon has faced significant challenges in
its space acquisitions, it is also making significant progress.

Navy Vice Adm. Harry Harris, deputy chief of naval operations for
communication networks, said the service ''is critically dependent on
space to conduct not only our wartime mission, but also our core
capabilities.''