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How can the Air Force and the other services profit from the experience of these two very different development programs? The F/A-18E/F is a new platform, but it incorporates some of the key components of the legacy platform. The F/A-22, on the other hand, is completely new, but the authors believe the divergent histories of the two-the F/A-22 has been delayed 52 months and has experienced cost overruns while the F/A-18E/F was developed on time and on budget-have lessons to teach future acquisition decisionmakers. In this report, the authors present a detailed history of the two programs and conclude that these decisionmakers can take several steps to reduce risk and improve the acquisition process, including setting realistic schedule and cost estimates, establishing a stable and experienced development team, being aware of the risks entailed in concurrent development of new technology, and carefully monitoring airframe weight.

F/A-22 (Jet fighter plane) --- Hornet (Jet fighter plane) --- United States. --- Procurement --- Evaluation. --- F-22 (Jet fighter plane)

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Why have the costs of acquiring space systems been so high? What are the sources of the problems? To answer these questions, RAND researchers examined the sources of cost growth of Air Force space systems and undertook an extensive study of two space systems--the Space Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS)--including an evaluation of their sources of cost growth, an assessment of their approaches to technical risk assessment, and an examination of their acquisition policy adaptations and industrial base environments. The researchers recommend independent program assessment for space systems that emphasizes technical and program factors, and a modified organizational structure that maintains cost analyst independence. They also summarize the cost estimating best practices of several other government organizations.

Space surveillance --- Global Positioning System --- Costs. --- United States. --- Procurement.

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The Afghan National Army (ANA) is critical to the success of the allied efforts in Afghanistan and the ultimate stability of the national government. This monograph assesses the ANA's progress in the areas of recruitment, training, facilities, and operational capability. It draws on a variety of sources: in-country interviews with U.S., NATO, and Afghan officials; data provided by the U.S. Army; open-source literature; and a series of public opinion surveys conducted in Afghanistan over the past several years. Although the ANA has come a long way since the outset of the recent conflict in the country, the authors conclude that coalition forces, especially those of the United States, will play a crucial role in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, particularly in light of the increased threat from Taliban forces and other illegally armed criminal groups.

National security --- Internal security --- Security, Internal --- Insurgency --- Subversive activities --- Afghanistan. --- Afghan National Army --- ANA (Afghan National Army) --- Afghanistan National Security Forces. --- ‏افغانستان.‏ --- Afghanistan National Army

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Between 2003 and 2006, the price of titanium more than doubled. The authors attempt to answer four primary questions: What triggered this price surge? What are titanium's future market prospects and emerging technologies? What are the implications for the production cost of future military airframes? How might the Department of Defense mitigate the economic risks involved in the titanium market?

Titanium industry. --- Nonferrous metal industries

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Over the past 20 years, various approaches have been proposed to reduce the cost and duration of testing military systems. At the same time, the systems being tested have become considerably more complex. This study examined system-level testing for selected fixed-wing aircraft programs and related weapons.

Airplanes, Military --- Antiaircraft missiles --- Costs. --- Testing. --- United States. --- Weapons systems