NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Navy officials are deciding what to do about a new system to land airplanes on aircraft carriers.
The Daily Press reports that the Navy established the Advanced Arresting Gear program in 2003 but it has been plagued by years of technological problems, delays and cost overruns.
A report Friday from the Defense Department Inspector General says that as of October 2015, the program had recorded a 332 percent cost increase associated with research, development, testing and evaluation. The report says that's an overrun of $571.5 million from 2005 baseline numbers.
Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, says the Navy is studying whether the system is affordable before going forward with it on future aircraft carriers. Navy officials will make a decision by December.