Opportunities for R and D Action to Reduce Acquisition and Support Costs of Tactical Aircraft. Volume I. Summary

The objectives of this study are to relate capabilities of tactical aircraft to their acquisition and support costs, and to identify opportunities for R and D action which appear to offer substantial cost-reduction potential--with particular emphasis on support costs. The capabilities of tactical aircraft are defined in terms of force capability parameters: unit performance (range, specific vehicle thrust, payload, etc.), number of units, inventory value, availability, utilization, and age. A model is developed which relates these parameters to total force costs as a function of performance-related design-technology characteristics (vehicle structural weight fraction, lift/drag ratio, engine specific fuel consumption, engine specific thrust). Opportunities for R and D action are defined in terms of three decision levels: alternative implementation policies, given a design; alternative designs, given a system concept; and alternative concepts. The potential downstream impact on force costs and capability of R and D actions at these levels is assessed using associated parameters of the model--alternative implementation policies, by means of potential changes in elements of cost; alternative designs, by means of potential changes in design-technology characteristics; alternative concepts, by means of potential changes in force capability parameters. The study is limited; data are largely confined to USAF fighter and attack aircraft; although a broad range of data is used, the data are unrefined; the rationale used as the basis for the model appears to explain the data, but alternative explanations are not explored.