Navy Shipbuilding: Increasing Focus on Sustainment Early in the Acquisition Process Could Save Billions

Abstract

The U.S. Navy requested over $40 billion each of the last three years to build, operate, and sustain its fleet. Acquisition decisions made as ships are developed and built can have a long-term effect on sustainment costs and ship quality. The GAO was asked to assess the extent to which the Department of Defense (DoD) considers and plans for sustainment when acquiring weapons. Among other objectives, this report assesses the extent to which 1) Navy ship programs deliver ships to the fleet that can be sustained as planned; 2) the Navy develops and uses effective sustainment requirements during acquisition; 3) ship programs are effectively identifying and evaluating sustainment risks in planning documents; and 4) leadership considers programs’ sustainment planning and outcomes. The GAO reviewed DoD and Navy acquisition policy and guidance, evaluated acquisition plans, collected sustainment metrics, and conducted interviews with more than 100 organizations, including program office and fleet units. The GAO assessed 11 classes of shipbuilding programs (all nine that delivered warships during the last 10 years, as well as two newer classes of ships).