Ballistic Missile Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Planning and Information on Construction and Support Costs for Proposed European Sites
GAO-09-771
Published: Aug 06, 2009. Publicly Released: Aug 06, 2009.
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Highlights
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) estimated in 2008 that the potential costs of fielding ballistic missile defenses in Europe would be more than $4 billion through 2015. Planned ballistic missile defenses in Europe are intended to defend the United States, its deployed forces, and its allies against ballistic missile attacks from the Middle East. They are expected to include a missile interceptor site in Poland, a radar site in the Czech Republic, and a mobile radar system in a still-to-be-determined European location. GAO was asked to evaluate the Department of Defense's (DOD) plans for missile defense sites in Europe and address to what extent DOD has (1) planned for the sites' implementation and (2) estimated military construction and long-term operations and support costs. Accordingly, GAO reviewed key legislation; examined policy and guidance from MDA, the Army, the Air Force, and the Army Corps of Engineers; analyzed budget documents and cost estimates; and visited sites in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To improve planning for the long-term support of the ballistic missile defense sites in Europe, the Secretary of Defense should direct MDA, the Army, and the Air Force to finalize the Overarching Memorandums of Agreement and element-specific annexes that detail the specific roles and responsibilities for the European sites and define the criteria that must be met before the transfer of those sites from MDA to the Army and Air Force. |
We claimed a financial accomplishment for the termination of this program. The administration announced a restructuring of European ballistic missile defenses in September 2009, to include the termination of plans for the interceptor site in Poland and radar site in the Czech Republic.
|
| Department of Defense | To provide for military construction cost estimates for ballistic missile defenses in Europe that are based on the best available data, the Secretary of Defense should direct MDA, in coordination with the Army and Air Force, to provide Congress annually, in alignment with the budget, updated military construction cost estimates for the European Interceptor Site and the European Midcourse Radar Site that reflect the data gathered from all site design efforts since project initiation; have been independently reviewed and verified by the Army Corps of Engineers; account for all military construction costs for the sites, including Army and Air Force base support facility requirements, recognizing that certain assumptions about host nation contributions will have to be made; and include costs for possible currency fluctuations. |
We claimed a financial accomplishment for the termination of this program. The administration announced a restructuring of European ballistic missile defenses in September 2009, to include the termination of plans for the interceptor site in Poland and radar site in the Czech Republic.
|
| Department of Defense | To provide for more complete military construction estimates for future ballistic missile defense sites, such as the still-to-be-determined European site for the mobile radar system, the Secretary of Defense should direct MDA to follow military construction regulations by utilizing the Army Corps of Engineers to complete required site design and analysis and verify military construction cost estimates before submitting cost estimates to Congress. |
We claimed a financial accomplishment for the termination of this program. The administration announced a restructuring of European ballistic missile defenses in September 2009, to include the termination of plans for the interceptor site in Poland and radar site in the Czech Republic.
|
| Department of Defense | To improve fiscal stewardship of DOD resources for ballistic missile defense, the Secretary of Defense should direct MDA and the Army and Air Force, in time for the fiscal year 2011 budget submission, to complete life cycle operations and support cost estimates for the European Interceptor Site and the European Midcourse Radar Site. |
We claimed a financial accomplishment for the termination of this program. The administration announced a restructuring of European ballistic missile defenses in September 2009, to include the termination of plans for the interceptor site in Poland and radar site in the Czech Republic.
|
| Department of Defense | To improve fiscal stewardship of DOD resources for ballistic missile defense, the Secretary of Defense should direct MDA and the Army and Air Force, in time for the fiscal year 2011 budget submission, to clearly define who is responsible for funding these operations and support costs over the elements' life cycles. |
We claimed a financial accomplishment for the termination of this program. The administration announced a restructuring of European ballistic missile defenses in September 2009, to include the termination of plans for the interceptor site in Poland and radar site in the Czech Republic.
|
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Ballistic missile defenseBallistic missilesConstruction costsDefense capabilitiesDefense cost controlDefense operationsDefense procurementMilitary facilitiesMilitary facility constructionMilitary operationsMissilesRadar equipmentStrategic planningWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsCost estimates