Findings Resulting From Initial Review of the Ballistic Missile Programs of the Department of the Air Force

The General Accounting Office has performed a review of the administrative management of the THOR ballistic missile program of the Air Force and, to a lesser extent, of its ATLAS and TITAN programs. This review was made pursuant to the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921 (31 U.S.C. 531), the Accounting and Auditing Act of- 1950 (31 U.S.C. 67), and the authority of the Comptroller General to examine contractors' records, as set forth in 10 U.S.C. 2313(b). When we began our review of the Air Force ballistic missile programs, the THOR intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) program was in a more advanced stage of development than the ATLAS or TITAN intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs and we, therefore, selected the THOR program for initial review, While we subsequently extended our review to the ATLAS and TITAN programs, this report deals primarily with certain findings in connection with the THOR program. Additional reports dealing with other aspects of these programs will be issued from time to time as our reviews are completed. The Air Force has reported that significant progress has been made in the ballistic missile program. That there has been progress and that notable accomplishments have been made are not questioned.