The problem of cost growth in major weapon system acquisition programs has plagued the Department of Defense for several decades. This report examines the Air Force experience with should-cost reviews--a special form of contract cost analysis intended to identify contractor inefficiencies and lower costs to the government--and options for enhancing the Air Force's capability to conduct such reviews.

The U.S. Air Force asked RAND Project AIR FORCE to perform a congressionally required assessment of contractor versus organic management of F-22 air vehicle and F119 engine sustainment to determine the most cost-effective approach. The methodology involved the development of notional government sustainment organizations and a consideration of a variety of factors relevant to such a decision, including the asserted benefits of each approach.

Presents a methodology for helping the Swedish Ministry of Defence assess the costs and benefits of architectures for network-based operations as the Swedish Defence Forces are reoriented to a wider suite of operations than homeland defence, including operations far from Sweden. 450-character abstract: Presents a methodology to help the Swedish Ministry of Defence assess costs and benefits of architectures for network-based operations as the Swedish Defence Forces are reoriented to a wider suite of missions than homeland defence, including operations far from Sweden. Offers criteria for certain network measures and metrics for those measures, and relates those metrics broadly to interaction categories that support identification of common subnetworks and analogous systems/components in the cost-estimation process.

Late in 1996, the Air Force enlisted RAND's help to respond to inquiries from Congress about the effects of a specific Air Force proposal to consolidate and divest a portion of Eglin Air Force Base's test and evaluation capabilities. The analysis found areas of financial merit in the proposal but also elements that may not be cost effective. The authors highlight areas of risk for Air Force consideration prior to implementation.