pogo.org POGO Statement on C-130J Inspector General Audit 7/23/2004 Project On Government Oversight

Contact: Eric Miller at defense@pogo.org or (202) 347-1122

An audit released today by the Pentagon's Inspector General concluded that, since 1999, the U.S. Air Force has purchased 50 new C-130J transport aircraft - an upgraded version of the decades-old Hercules prop cargo airlifter - despite a host of deficiencies that make the aircraft unable to perform its missions.

The Pentagon's audit is the first in-depth government study of the C-130J and explores the reasons why the aircraft is overpriced and why many of the estimated 50 C-130Js delivered by manufacturer Lockheed Martin primarily to Air Force units are problem-plagued.

"This is yet another sad chapter in the history of bad Pentagon weapons systems acquisitions," said POGO Senior Defense Investigator Eric Miller. "For years, the Air Force has known it was paying too much for an aircraft that doesn't do what it's supposed to. Yet it has turned a blind eye."

"The air crews who have to fly these aircraft should be very angry. They've been betrayed by the very government that should be ensuring that the weapons they receive are safe and effective," Miller continued.

Some of the deficiencies that the audit eluded to include:

The aircraft's six-blade propeller becomes pitted and delaminates (layers of composite material separate) in severe weather conditions ranging from heavy rain to sleet, a condition that requires either repair or blade replacement. As a result, some of the aircraft received by the Air Force are being used only for training missions and are not considered combat ready.
Several of the aircraft delivered to an Air Force reserve unit in Biloxi, Mississippi intended to be "Hurricane Hunters" have been unable to perform missions that, by their very nature require flying in bad weather. The reason: The above-mentioned propeller problems, and radar and data transmission systems that are not working properly.
One of the aircraft's selling points over the old C-130H model is that the crew size can be reduced from five to three - two pilots and a loadmaster - making it cheaper to operate. This has yet to be proven in testing, and on most test and training flights a fourth crew member is traveling in the cockpit.
Although the aircraft has been in production since 1997, the new U.S. model has not yet been certified to conduct air-drop operations, one of the aircraft's most basic missions.

The C-130J is believed to be the only aircraft ever to be designated a "commercial item" - a process intended to make acquisition of true commercial items such as computers, office equipment, and automobiles that can be purchased in the everyday marketplace easier - but in this case, however, the designation reduces oversight and transparency. The Inspector General audit concludes that the aircraft does not meet the conditions for a commercial designation.

The audit also said that despite the failings attributed to the new C-130J models, the Air Force has already paid Lockheed Martin more than 99 percent of its contracted price. "As a result, the government fielded C-130J aircraft that cannot perform their intended mission, which forces the users to incur additional operations and maintenance costs to operate and maintain older C-130 mission-capable aircraft because the C-130J aircraft can be used only for training," the audit concluded.

A full copy of the Inspector General audit, "Acquisition: Contracting for and Performance of the C-130J Aircraft," can be viewed at the I.G. web site.

POGO investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, POGO is a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry.


	July 23, 2004 POGO Statement on C-130J Inspector General Audit


	For Immediate Release Contact: Eric Miller at defense@pogo.org or (202) 347-1122 An audit released today by the Pentagon's Inspector General concluded that, since 1999, the U.S. Air Force has purchased 50 new C-130J transport aircraft - an upgraded version of the decades-old Hercules prop cargo airlifter - despite a host of deficiencies that make the aircraft unable to perform its missions. The Pentagon's audit is the first in-depth government study of the C-130J and explores the reasons why the aircraft is overpriced and why many of the estimated 50 C-130Js delivered by manufacturer Lockheed Martin primarily to Air Force units are problem-plagued. "This is yet another sad chapter in the history of bad Pentagon weapons systems acquisitions," said POGO Senior Defense Investigator Eric Miller. "For years, the Air Force has known it was paying too much for an aircraft that doesn't do what it's supposed to. Yet it has turned a blind eye." "The air crews who have to fly these aircraft should be very angry. They've been betrayed by the very government that should be ensuring that the weapons they receive are safe and effective," Miller continued. Some of the deficiencies that the audit eluded to include: The aircraft's six-blade propeller becomes pitted and delaminates (layers of composite material separate) in severe weather conditions ranging from heavy rain to sleet, a condition that requires either repair or blade replacement. As a result, some of the aircraft received by the Air Force are being used only for training missions and are not considered combat ready. Several of the aircraft delivered to an Air Force reserve unit in Biloxi, Mississippi intended to be "Hurricane Hunters" have been unable to perform missions that, by their very nature require flying in bad weather. The reason: The above-mentioned propeller problems, and radar and data transmission systems that are not working properly. One of the aircraft's selling points over the old C-130H model is that the crew size can be reduced from five to three - two pilots and a loadmaster - making it cheaper to operate. This has yet to be proven in testing, and on most test and training flights a fourth crew member is traveling in the cockpit. Although the aircraft has been in production since 1997, the new U.S. model has not yet been certified to conduct air-drop operations, one of the aircraft's most basic missions. The C-130J is believed to be the only aircraft ever to be designated a "commercial item" - a process intended to make acquisition of true commercial items such as computers, office equipment, and automobiles that can be purchased in the everyday marketplace easier - but in this case, however, the designation reduces oversight and transparency. The Inspector General audit concludes that the aircraft does not meet the conditions for a commercial designation. The audit also said that despite the failings attributed to the new C-130J models, the Air Force has already paid Lockheed Martin more than 99 percent of its contracted price. "As a result, the government fielded C-130J aircraft that cannot perform their intended mission, which forces the users to incur additional operations and maintenance costs to operate and maintain older C-130 mission-capable aircraft because the C-130J aircraft can be used only for training," the audit concluded. A full copy of the Inspector General audit, "Acquisition: Contracting for and Performance of the C-130J Aircraft," can be viewed at the I.G. web site. POGO investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, POGO is a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry. # # # # Home I Archives I Expose I Search I Donations I Investigations I About Us I Contact Us I Press Room Site Map I Web Overseer I Site Policies --- © The Project On Government Oversight 2004 updated:Friday, July 23, 2004