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Premature Approval at Milestone B

• The six Air Force Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) examined were not ready for approval at Milestone B (MS B).
• Five of the six programs examined were characterized by insufficient technology maturity and high integration complexity at MS B.
• Many of the programs chose unrealistically optimistic cost estimates at MS B that underestimated the challenges of incorporating commercially derived technologies, even though more realistic independent cost estimates were available.

Suboptimal Acquisition Strategies and Program Structure

• In all six programs, acquisition strategies and program structures were adopted that lacked adequate processes for managing risk through incrementalism and provision of appropriate oversight and incentives for the prime contractor.
• Four of the programs were not ready for approval at MS C; use of a combined MS B/C milestone or premature award of MS C took place prior to the achievement of adequate production article design stability.