McCain criticizes Air Force OCX acquisition

Arizona Republican John McCain had a harsh critique of the Air Force’s program to acquire a next-generation operating control system that is central to its GPS modernization plans, according to FCW.

The program is threatened by poor contractor performance and fundamental weaknesses in Defense Department acquisition and software development practices, the senator was quoted as saying in a Oct. 16 report.

In February 2010, the Air Force awarded Raytheon an $889 million contract to develop the system, known as OCX, but the development contract costs have since grown to $1.98 billion, FCW reported.