This is an annual assessment of Department of Defense (DOD) weapon system acquisitions, an area that has been on GAO’s high-risk list for more than 20 years. The report includes observations on (1) the cost and schedule performance of DOD’s 2012 portfolio of 86 major defense acquisition programs, including the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System; (2) the knowledge attained at key junctures in the acquisition process for 40 major defense acquisition programs that were selected because they were in development or early production; and (3) key acquisition reform initiatives and program concurrency. Major defense acquisition programs are DOD’s costliest weapon system development and procurement programs. Tables and figures. This is a print on demand report.

Assesses the annual progress the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) made in developing and fielding the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Also assessed MDA's progress toward improving accountability and transparency in agency operations, mgmt. processes, and its acquisition strategy. To accomplish this, the auditor reviewed asset fielding schedules, test plans and reports, as well as pertinent sections of DoD policy to compare MDA's current level of accountability with that of other DoD programs. The FY 2009 assessment of MDA's cost, schedule, and performance progress is more limited than previous assessments because MDA removed key components of schedule and performance goals from its annual report of goals.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is likely to spend $460 million annually on missiles used as targets for flight tests. Executing these tests depends on the quality and availability of targets. This report assesses: (1) if MDA is providing reliable targets; (2) the causes of any deficiencies; and (3) if resolutions exist for any problems identified. To do so, the author analyzed acquisition policies and procedures; flight test data; and budget, program execution, and acquisition materials; and interviewed MDA and DoD officials. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

By law, GAO is directed to assess the annual progress the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) made in developing and fielding the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). GAO also assessed MDA's progress toward improving accountability and transparency in agency operations, management processes, and its acquisition strategy. To accomplish this, GAO reviewed asset fielding schedules, test plans and reports, as well as pertinent sections of Department of Defense (DOD) policy to compare MDA's current level of accountability with that of other DOD programs. GAO's fiscal year 2009 assessment of MDA's cost, schedule, and performance progress is more limited than previous assessments because MDA removed key components of schedule and performance goals from its annual report of goals. In addition, though it had committed to, MDA did not report total cost estimates in 2009.

Funded at $8 billion to nearly $10 billion per year, the Missile Defense Agency¿s (MDA) effort to develop and field a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) is the largest R and D program in the DoD. The program has been managed in 2-year increments, known as blocks. Block 2006, the second BMDS block, was completed in Dec. 2007. By law, an annual audit must be performed to assess MDA¿s progress. This testimony is based on an assessment of MDA¿s progress in: (1) meeting Block 2006 goals for fielding assets, completing work within estimated cost, conducting tests, & demonstrating the performance of the overall system in the field; and (2) making managerial improvements to transparency, accountability, and oversight. Illustrations.

Quality is key to success in U.S. space and missile defense programs, but quality problems exist that have endangered entire missions along with less-visible problems leading to unnecessary repair, scrap, rework, and stoppage; long delays; and millions in cost growth. Tthis report examined quality problems related to parts and manufacturing processes and materials across the DoD and NASA. The report assessed: (1) the extent to which parts quality problems affect those agencies' space and missile defense programs; (2) causes of any problems; and (3) initiatives to prevent, detect, and mitigate parts quality problems. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find publication.

By law, there is an annual assessment of the Missile Defense Agency¿s (MDA) progress in developing and fielding a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Funded at $8 billion to nearly $10 billion per year, it is the largest R&D program in the DoD. The program has been managed in two-year increments, known as blocks. Block 2006, the second BMDS block, was completed in Dec. 2007. This report assessed MDA¿s progress in: (1) meeting Block 2006 goals for fielding assets, completing work within estimated cost, conducting tests, and demonstrating the performance of the overall system in the field; and (2) making managerial improvements to transparency, accountability, and oversight. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

This report examines how well DoD is planning and executing its weapon acquisition programs. The report includes: (1) an analysis of the overall performance of DoD's 2008 portfolio of 96 major defense acquisition programs and a comparison to the portfolio performance at two other points in time -- 5 years ago and 1 year ago; (2) an analysis of current cost and schedule outcomes and knowledge attained by key junctures in the acquisition process for a subset of 47 weapon programs -- primarily in development -- from the 2008 portfolio; (3) data on other factors that could impact program stability; and (4) an update on changes in DoD's acquisition policies. Includes a one- or two-page assessment of 67 weapon programs. Illustrations.