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GAO-01-603R 1 (2001-04-10)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptangz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



  SGAO

       Accountability * Integrity * Reliability
United States General Accounting Office
Washington, DC 20548



         April 10, 2001

         The Honorable Lane Evans
         House of Representatives

         Subject: Status Update of the New 155 mm Lightweight Howitzer

         Dear Mr. Evans:

         In July 2000, we issued a report to you and several other members of Congress
         describing problems with the new 155 mm Lightweight Howitzer program. The new
         155 mm Lightweight Howitzer is expected to replace the M-198 towed howitzer. The
         Army-Marine Corps Lightweight Howitzer Joint Program Office is directing this
         program's development, with BAE SYSTEMS (BAE), a British company, as the prime
         contractor.

         This correspondence responds to your request of December 2000 that we continue to
         monitor and report on this program due to your continued concerns about its
         schedule, cost, and technical difficulties.

         RESULTS IN BRIEF

         Since our July 2000 report, all key milestones except one have continued to slip. For
         example, acceptance of the first developmental howitzer slipped an additional 5
         months from June to November 2000, and delivery of the remaining 7 developmental
         howitzers was delayed an additional 5 to 10 months. The production decision has
         slipped from March 2002 to September 2002 and the initial fielding of the new
         howitzer by the Marine Corps has slipped another 8 months to July 2004 or 28 months
         from the date set at the original contract award. The initial fielding of the howitzer to
         the Army remains unchanged at March 2005.

         Since July 2000, total program cost estimates have increased from $1,129.9 million to
         $1,250.2 million, an increase of $120.3 million.2 This increase is principally the result
         of restructuring the developmental contract which added $20.2 million and an
         approximately $100 million increase for an electronic aiming system.

         1 See Defense Acquisitions: Howitzer Program Experiencing Cost Increases and Schedule Delays
         (GAO/NSIAD-00-182, July 28, 2000).
         2 All fiscal year 2002 cost estimates are predecisional, as the President's fiscal year 2002 budget has not yet
         been submitted to the Congress.


GAO-01-603R 155mm Lightweight Howitzer

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