NORAD's Missile Warning System: What Went Wrong?
Highlights
GAO was requested to review recent missile warning system failures at the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). The NORAD command post is in the underground Cheyenne Mountain complex in Colorado. Missile warning information gathered from the Worldwide Military Command and Control System (WWMCCS) is processed on the 427M system computers. The 427M computer system is presently in an upgrade program. GAO evaluated: (1) the extent, if any, of the relationship of computer acquisition policies, directives, or procedures implementing the legal requirements of the Brooks Act to the 427M system problems; (2) actions taken to correct missile warning system failures; and (3) what remains to be done and if that effort is hindered in any way by computer acquisition policies, directives, or procedures.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should assist and support the North American Air Defense Command's plans for providing stable, reliable electrical power for the Cheyenne Mountain complex computers. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should curtail further consideration of additional delegation of procurement authority for the North American Air Defense Command until such time that the system architectures are completed, and then only if some critical need has been validated. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should take action to exempt the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) from Joint Chiefs of Staff directions to use standardized World Wide Military Command and Control System (WWMCCS) computers and allow acquisition of systems that are based on actual NORAD mission requirements. These NORAD systems should be required to maintain interface capability with WWMCCS. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should assist and support current North American Air Defense Command 427M system replacement planning and creation of overall missile warning and space surveillance architectures. |
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|