Pentagon scrutiny: how much is it worth?

• Position: Purchasing helicopter by Army - Brief article

Too much Pentagon supervision can saddle weapon systems with unnecessary costs, says the Army's top acquisition executive Claude Bolton. A case in point is a light utility helicopter that the Army is buying as a "commercial off-the-shelf" item, rather than as a customized military aircraft. Still, the Defense Department's acquisition office asked for detailed proof that the Army is getting the "best value" by purchasing a commercial helicopter. That ended up costing the Army $52,000 in paperwork, Bolton complains.

"We'll provide the office of the secretary of defense a bill for what I consider excessive oversight," he tells an industry conference. "And the taxpayer got stuck paying $52,000." Industry...