Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated the Air Force's plans to retain the Minuteman II and III missile force through fiscal year (FY) 2008, focusing on: (1) the costs; (2) the impacts of aging; (3) life support extension programs; and (4) the capability of the Air Force to assess and demonstrate the operational condition of the missiles.
GAO found that: (1) to extend the life of the Minuteman force, the Air Force must maintain missiles in a launch-ready state; (2) the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems program office estimated that it would need about $30.4 billion to maintain the force, although the estimate could decrease by an undetermined amount in light of a decision to retire half of the force; (3) a shortage of missiles and missile components curtailed operational flight testing of the Minuteman II system; (4) the Air Force maintained Minuteman III missiles in accordance with planning criteria; (5) the reliability of the Minuteman III force was at an acceptable level, but the reliability level of the Minuteman II was not acceptable; (6) under current testing schedules, the Air Force would not have spare components for flight testing to support Minuteman III reliability assessments after 1999; and (7) under current plans, confidence in Minuteman II missile performance could not be restored and sustained.
