Summary: The Advanced Cruise Missile, which the Air Force began developing in the early 1980s, is a subsonic, turbofan-powered missile equipped with a nuclear warhead. To meet operational deadlines, the Air Force implemented a highly concurrent program. Flight tests discovered many design and manufacturing deficiencies, and the program's schedule slipped and projected costs began to increase. To overcome the design and manufacturing problems, many changes were made to the missile's guidance set, sensor, actuators, and other subsystems. In addition, the planned procurement rate was slowed and actions were taken to improve the missile's quality and reliability. Flight tests improved considerably in 1989, but design, quality, and financial problems continued to plague the program. This report provides information on the program's restructuring, funding, and missile performance. It also discusses the application of work measurement standards to missile production contracts and the criteria used in determining progress payments while missile deliveries were suspended to overcome quality problems.
