Summary: In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Aquila Remotely Piloted Vehicle Program focusing on its technical problems, their effect on the program's cost, schedule, and management, and the Army's consideration of alternatives to the program.
GAO found that: (1) the program recently underwent a major restructuring in response to the technical problems revealed in testing; (2) the Army has questioned the value of the contractor's tests and estimates that it will run out of air vehicles before the operational test can be completed; (3) the program has experienced considerable cost growth and schedule delays stemming from technical problems, funding limitations, and expanded capabilities; and (4) while recent program actions will further increase costs, cost estimates are still under revision. Among the program changes were: (1) shifting program management from the Army's Aviation Systems Command to its Missile Command; (2) deferring the production decision pending the resolution of technical problems; and (3) making the contractor financially responsible for correction of the problems. GAO also found that, in a 1984 study of alternatives to the program, the Army did not consider taking steps toward a more balanced comparison, including studies of: (1) life-cycle costs; (2) the revised employment concept to determine which system would satisfy basic mission needs; and (3) future mission payloads.
