GAO Report Finds US Military Cannibalizing Aircraft and Submarines
The US Government Accountability Office reports that Navy technicians are stripping parts from submarines and jets to address critical spare part shortages.
A report from the US Government Accountability Office reveals that US Navy technicians are cannibalizing parts from Virginia-class submarines and F/A-18 Super Hornet jets to maintain the operational readiness of other assets. This systemic practice is driven by critical shortages of spare parts and significant maintenance delays across multiple programs.
The watchdog identifies a reliance on sole-source contracts and a lack of technical data rights as the primary causes, leaving the Department of Defense dependent on original equipment manufacturers for repairs. These data rights issues extend beyond the Navy, affecting the F-35 Lightning II, the Littoral Combat Ship, and the Army's Stryker armored vehicle programs.
Specific failures include insufficient contractor staffing and a lack of technical data that have delayed corrosion repairs for the F-35. Additionally, the US Army spent approximately $534 million over five years on a technical support contract for the Stryker because it could not acquire unlimited data rights for the base vehicle.
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