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Return to Article: GAO: Weapons systems over budget, overdue, underperforming

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  Basic systems engineering and how you build something has not changed in the 30+ years I have been working for the government. Systems are more complex and have more software than ever. We have better tools for managing requirements and measuring performance. It is the acquisition system that is the problem. Program managers are not allowed the tools to do their jobs. They have to plan 8-10 years in advance for technology that has not been developed and estimate what it is going to cost and how long it will take to build when there is no precedent. They get their funds every year and have to fight to keep what what promised to the program 8 years ago. Then you have Congress telling them what to do and which programs are the priority (congressional plus ups). You have OSD taking funds from programs who are doing well to fund the overruns on the political programs like JSF and F-22. Program Managers will never be able to succeed until the whole acquisition system changes. They have never been truly empowered to execute the program. So the warfighter suffers!

  BW Posted April 30, 2008 5:08 PM
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  An easier question when has the government ever let a contract for anything that didn't come in over budget. With the idiots in contracting there is no such thing as coming in on time on budget. All they are concerned about is the high stress level and why they didn't get promoted

  dan ketter Posted April 2, 2008 10:38 PM
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  And this is news because...this has been an on-going situation. The problem basically starts at the White House then on to Congress and high ranking military personnel. The President is looking for allies receiving financial support or granting favors to those who provided financial backing, with members of Congress running a close second. As for the high ranking military personnel, they're looking toward the future after retirement from the military and a place they can call 'home'. People should have paid attention to the movie satire (The Pentagon Wars) on Government spending for a troop transport vehicle, which was not as far-fetched as most were lead to believe. This satire is a 'mirror image' of what actually transpires during the various phases of Lifecycle and Acquisition Logistics, Test and Evaluation and Sustainment Logistics, beginning with the ONS. Unfortunately, in most instances once a weapon system is fielded, it's already ten years behind the power curve and does not resemble what was initially requested based upon input from various entities.

  CAE Posted April 2, 2008 1:56 PM
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  After years of "Overrun Reports", I believe basic estimates are understated by both contractors and government officials. The fault lies in the desire for orders,coupled with faulty use of time standards and learning curve theory. Multiple revisions will result in Cost growths,these must stop, and be included future designs.

  Samuel H. Cohen Posted April 2, 2008 10:04 AM
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  So tell me something that I wasn't aware of twenty five years ago. As long as our Congressional representatives, Commander In Chief, Generals, Admirals, etc. have those hidden, vested interests in war machine companies, we will continue wasting money.

  That's why there needs to be much more public access to the business of the government. Our government works for themselves first and us if it isn't inconvenient for them.

  Robert M. Posted April 2, 2008 6:49 AM