Estimated cost of Pentagon's weapons bill escalates

THE ESTIMATED cost of US Department of Defense weapons purchasing rose by $6 billion in the second quarter of 1996, from the $702 billion first-quarter estimate to a mid-year projection of $708 billion. The so-called Selected Acquisition Report summarises the latest schedule and cost estimate for the Pentagon's major weapons programmes. The report is submitted to the US Congress, to help lawmakers, keep tabs on weapons spending.

The latest report includes for the first time the projected cost of re-engineing the USA's 607 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Pentagon says that it will cost $2.8 billion to complete the Minuteman III propulsion-replacement programme. The Selected Acquisition Report also discloses that McDonnell Douglas T-45 contractor logistics support work has been stretched by nearly three years because of technical problems.

Source: Flight International