Ken Munson

Authors present a framework for evaluating combat support requirements, basing posture vulnerabilities, operational resilience, and mitigation strategies to support combat operations in a denied environment. Analysts can assess combat support design vulnerabilities against attacks by near-peer or regional powers and the costs, effectiveness, and risks of alternative strategies to mitigate potential adversary anti-access/area-denial capabilities.

Congress asked six questions about the extent of, and opportunities to improve, data collection and analytic capabilities in the U.S. Department of Defense to inform acquisition decisions. This report identifies and measures extensive capabilities and recent progress in following commercial best practices. However, barriers to improvement include a culture against data sharing because of concerns about security and oversight burden.

This report analyzes costs and savings of joint aircraft acquisition programs, whether historical joint aircraft programs have saved Life Cycle Cost (LCC) over single-service programs, whether the Joint Strike Fighter is on track to achieving the originally anticipated LCC savings, and the implications of joint fighter programs for the industrial base and for operational and strategic risk.

These appendixes explain the methodology used in an analysis of the costs and savings of joint aircraft acquisition programs. They illustrate calculations for theoretical maximum joint aircraft savings in acquisition and in operations and support, historical joint aircraft cost-growth premiums, savings needed to offset premiums, and two cost-comparison methodologies.