Problems Associated With the Worldwide Military Command and Control System

The World Wide Military Command and Control System (WWMCCS) is intended to provide national command authorities with the capability to: receive warning and intelligence information; apply the resources of the military; assign military missions; and provide direction and support to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the 1960's the WWMCCS structure consisted of a loosely knit federation of 158 different computer systems, using 30 different general purpose software systems in operation at 81 separate locations. This review evaluated the current program in an effort to determine the extent to which the Department of Defense (DOD) has been able to improve the computer and data communication support of commmand and control activities. Little, if any, improvement was noted. The main problems include a lack of definition for the information requirements needed, and fragmented planning and program management. Planned future expenditures of the DOD will not resolve the problems unless major changes are initiated. To continue the program, DOD requested more than $140 million for 1980; however, funds are being expended in so many areas involving computer and data communications equipment and software development that the full magnitude of the sums expended or requested could not be determined.