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Defense acquisitions : Navy faces challenges constructing the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford within budget : report to the Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives.

As a result of a substantial investment of time and money, the Navy has reduced the risks associated with a number of essential technologies, including the nuclear propulsion and electric plant. At this time, several technical risks that could lead to increased construction costs and potentially res...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Authors: United States. Government Accountability Office, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee
Other Authors: Fracnis, Paul L., Zuckerstein, Karen, Beradi, Lisa L., Moldafsky, Diana, Scwhzart, Moshe, Weir, Alyssa
Format: Government Document eBook
Language:English
Published: [Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2007]
Subjects:
United States. > Navy > Procurement.
United States. > Navy > Appropriations and expenditures.
Aircraft carriers > Cost control.
Administration and Management.
Marine Engineering.
Acquisition.
Defense systems.
Aircraft carriers.
Nuclear propulsion.
Test and evaluation.
Computer programs.
Investments.
Radar.
Costs.
Construction.
Electromagnetic radiation.
Shipyards.
Land areas.
Electric power plants.
Dual mode.
Generators.
Arresting gear.
Delay.
Launching.
Missions.
Scheduling.
Frequency bands.
Air traffic control systems.
Prototypes.
Scenarios.
Ships.
Control systems.
CVN-78 VESSEL
Online Access:https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS86668
http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA472282
Description
Summary:As a result of a substantial investment of time and money, the Navy has reduced the risks associated with a number of essential technologies, including the nuclear propulsion and electric plant. At this time, several technical risks that could lead to increased construction costs and potentially result in capability reductions still remain. In particular, the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), the advanced arresting gear, and the dual band radar face key tests with little margin for resolving problems before they begin to disrupt the optimal CVN 78 construction schedule and increase ship costs. If key systems arrive late, more labor cost may be incurred because of inefficient work-arounds and schedule delays. EMALS and the advanced arresting gear are vital to meeting key capabilities and must be delivered to the shipyard on time to maintain the construction schedule. The dual band radar enables a smaller island structure on the deck of the carrier, facilitating the ship s increased sortie generation rate. All three systems have experienced schedule delays because of technical and other challenges. Demanding tests lay ahead for all three systems: " In November 2007, the EMALS program will begin testing a production-representative system, including a critical generator component that will be field-tested for the first time. " Land-based testing of a dual band radar prototype is expected to begin in December 2008, but will not demonstrate full power output critical to meeting requirements. Specific testing has not yet been planned for all carrier-unique capabilities, including a number of air traffic control scenarios. " Testing of the advanced arresting gear, including, for the first time, the software control system, is scheduled to begin in 2008.
Item Description:Title from title screen (viewed on May 13, 2008).
"August 2007."
Paper version available from: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, 441 G St., NW, Rm. LM, Washington, D.C. 20548.
"GAO-07-866."
Electronic resource.
Physical Description:ii, 52 pages : digital, PDF file.
Format:Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 5/13/08: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07866.pdf ; current access available via PURL.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references.
Access:APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE.