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Carter Cuts 13 More Global Hawks

Jun 15, 2011

By Amy Butler abutler@aviationweek.com
WASHINGTON

Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter has sliced 13 Block 30 Global Hawks from the planned buy of 44, further reducing the total number of the aircraft in the project only months after the U.S. Air Force cut 11 from the Block 40 program.

The decision is outlined in a June 14 acquisition decision memorandum that details a restructuring of the entire RQ-4A/B program; this includes all four blocks of the aircraft (10-40). Also in this document, Carter outlines his plans to certify that the Global Hawk may move forward despite its latest cost overrun, which breached the Nunn-McCurdy statute limits and triggered a massive review of the project. He states that “continuation of the program is essential to national security . . . there are no alternatives to the program,” and new cost estimates have been established to move forward.

An April selected-acquisition report sent to Congress that includes the Global Hawk cost overrun notes a total program tally of $13.9 billion. The Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) pegs the new price at $12.4 billion, according to Carter’s memo. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor, with Raytheon playing a role in some sensor work.

Carter also directs the Air Force to break up the massive project into subprograms: one each is outlined for “Baseline,” or Block 10/20; Block 30 (with the Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite and Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload); and Block 40, including the aircraft and the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program active, electronically scanned array ground surveillance system. A new subprogram will be established for the Ground Segment Re-Architecture and Communications Systems Re-Architecture, Carter says in his memo.

The intent is to more clearly account for the numerous different efforts in the Global Hawk program by breaking them out into separate line items. These different projects were the byproducts of the earlier “spiral acquisition” strategy, which called for infusing new technologies—such as sensors—into the program when they became mature. However, some in Congress have found these efforts difficult to monitor.

Also, this accounting approach is designed to better illuminate any shortfalls. In earlier budgets, Pentagon and industry sources say shortfalls in the spares accounts went unaddressed. They are now being funded, some say, at the sacrifice of total numbers of Block 40 aircraft.

Program officials appear accepting of the 13-aircraft reduction in Block 30s. These were originally slated to be attrition-reserve platforms, and one program official notes that the aircraft are lasting longer than expected thus far.

Also included in the acquisition decision memo is a directive from Carter that requires the Air Force to ask his permission before “obligating any funds beyond the specified amounts identified [in his memo], even on existing contracts.”

It is unclear how this could affect the program’s ability to be agile in responding to urgent warfighter needs. The quick integration of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node onto two Block 20s, for example, was not originally included in the program plan. But senior Pentagon officials have praised program officials for quickly deploying the system, which is helping provide tactical communications to soldiers in Afghanistan.

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