2023-06-11 14:42:24
The Pentagon faces delays in many weapons programs. But this is not the only problem of the US Department of Defense.
this is what we know
Spending on 32 key programs has increased by tens of billions of dollars in the past two years. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reached this conclusion.
GAO staff reviewed a total of 101 Defense Department weapons programs. These include the modernization of the B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber, the development of a long-range precision strike missile (PrSM) for HIMARS, as well as the production of Virginia-class submarines and the creation of a spacecraft of new generation for the US Space Force.
More than half of the 26 large defense acquisition programs that have not yet reached operational capacity have registered further delays. The main reasons were supply interruptions, delays in software development, and poor quality control.
The net cost of 32 large defense procurement programs increased by $37 billion year-over-year, due to rising modernization costs, manufacturing inefficiencies, and supply chain issues.
We previously wrote that the Virginia-class nuclear submarines would arrive two years later than anticipated. In addition, the US Navy might suffer a delay in the integration of hypersonic missiles on the Zumwalt-class destroyers.
The US Air Force also has problems. For example, deliveries of F-15EX Eagle II fighters are delayed by at least six months. The KC-46A Pegasus and Air Force One(VC-25B) programs have also been delayed. The T-7A Red Hawk training aircraft is “overdue” for more than two years, and this is not the limit.
The Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile should reach its initial operational capability in 2030. The cost of the program is estimated at $96 billion. The missile will replace the Minuteman III and will remain in service for several decades.
Fuente: Breaking Defense
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