WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Following a harshly critical Government Accountability Office report this week, a top Pentagon leader said Friday the military is working hard to rein in costs.
The issue: weapons systems acquisition cost overruns.
Nearly a decade after reforms, many costs continue to spiral upward, costing taxpayers' big bucks.
One of the most glaring examples is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The projected cost for operating and supporting the nation's fleet of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters over six decades has now grown by almost $73 billion, to more than one-point-nine trillion dollars.
It is now history's most expensive weapons system.
But, the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord said things are improving.
"Compared to FY 18, we achieved a ten percent reduction in the negotiated cost per flying hour in the annual sustainment contract," she said.
The U.S. still plans to buy more than 24-hundred of the jets for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
The F-35 will eventually replace the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet at Oceana.
"Its ability to collect, analyze and share data is a force multiplier that enhances all assets in the battlespace," said Lord. "With stealth technology, advanced sensors, weapons capacity, and range it is the most lethal, survivable, connected, and inter-operable aircraft ever built."
A Government Accountability Office report this week found there is not enough competition among contractors bidding for Pentagon work.
The report said that the DOD awarded 47 percent of its 183 contracts to just five corporations.
Lord vowed to do better.
"Competition is our friend," she said. "I'm very, very supportive of competition...and we try to drive that in many different ways."
Click here to see the full report.