Battlefield Automation: Requirements Need to Be Updated Before the Air Defense System Is Produced
NSIAD-94-213
Published: Sep 22, 1994. Publicly Released: Sep 22, 1994.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
GAO reviewed the Army's procurement of a command, control, and intelligence (C2I) system as part of its forward area air defense system (FAADS), focusing on whether the Army has conducted the testing and analyses needed for initial low-rate production.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to defer any production and initial operational testing until the Army: (1) updates the requirements for both the ground-based sensor and FAAD C2I system; and (2) selects the best solution, based on a cost and operational effectiveness analysis, for satisfying the updated requirements. |
DOD commented that it was confident that the Army had performed sufficient requirements analyses and that it believed that sufficient data were available to go ahead with the LRIP decision. This recommendation has been overtaken by events.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to cancel the planned low-rate production decision because the full-scale production decision is only a few months later and the Army's reason (training) for initiating low-rate production is inconsistent with the purposes specified in 10 U.S.C. 2400 for initiating low-rate initial production. This would allow more time to evaluate test results before committing to production. |
DOD stated that the Army's planned LRIP was to establish an initial production line and thereby provide for an orderly increase in the production rate to full-rate production and to take advantage of a fixed-price contract. The Army proceeded to LRIP on January 18,1995.
|
Full Report
Topics
Air defense systemsArmy procurementCombat readinessCommand control communications systemsDefense appropriationsOperational testingProcurement planningRequirements definitionWarning systemsMilitary forces