New GAO Report Identifies Reasons for Delays in DOD Weapons Programs

The Government Accountability Office has attributed delays in the Department of Defense’s acquisition programs to the inconsistent application of commercial development practices. In a new report, the watchdog cited the U.S. Navy’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt guided-missile destroyer, which saw its schedule pushed back by a year due to a request to integrate an experimental hypersonic missile.

GAO noted that the DOD’s tendency to add new technology requirements is causing setbacks even in efforts that do follow private-sector principles. One such program, the U.S. Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System, has been credited for collecting operator feedback to improve ease of use. However, hardware and software issues have caused its delivery to be delayed from 2021 to 2024.

One Army project highlighted by GAO for utilizing the private sector’s development techniques is the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon System for applying iterative design and 3D printing. Another is the Extended Range Cannon Artillery initiative, which relied on feedback to inform new features and design upgrades, Defense One reported Friday.