Air Force Decision To Include Passenger, Cargo Capability in CSAR-X Made Without Required Analyses, GAO Says

GAO recommends Secretary of Defense require AF to complete required analyses

By Rodney L. Pringle

The Air Force’s decision to include a passenger and cargo capability in the combat, search and rescue aircraft (CSAR-X) was made without required analyses, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). On March 6, the GAO issued a report recommending that the Secretary of Defense direct the Secretary of the Air Force to accomplish the required analyses that evaluate the proposed passenger and cargo capability “so as to determine if there is a gap, shortfall, or redundancy, assess the associated risk, and then submit such documentation to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council for validation.” The Air Force presented analysis and rationale for the passenger and cargo capability though the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process, the GAO said. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) and the Air Force concluded that the analysis was sufficient justification for the capability, and the JROC validated the passenger and cargo requirement, according to the GAO. This past week, the Air Force announced that it intends to “comply with the intent of the recommendations more narrowly” made by the GAO in the agency’s decision to uphold the protest of the service’s contract for 140 CSAR-X aircraft.