AW&ST 5/3/2004: Airborne Laser to have cost overruns

I’m not going to post the article per terms of usage, but here are some summary points;

1) ABL may face a $1 billion cost overrun. The original development costs were pegged at $2.5 billion, but the Pentagon has already spent $2 billion thus far, and is budgeting another $3.1 billion through the year 2009.
(If only that money were spent on social security or improving the nation’s schools.) 🙁

2) GAO predicts the cost overrun on the existing contract to be anywhere between $431-942 million.

3) The test to shoot down a boosted ballistic missile will not have to be pushed back to 2005 or 2006. Original plan was to have 7 aircraft flying by 2008.

4) Serious problems with poor quality materials, and shoddy workmanship.

5) The Active Ranging System (ARS) needed for final operation, hasn’t even been tested yet due to its own set of problems.

In conclusion: a lot of delays, and more money thrown at the project.