Submarine Technology: Transition Plans Needed to Realize Gains From DOD Advanced Research
IMTEC-90-21
Published: Feb 14, 1990. Publicly Released: Mar 21, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Advanced Submarine Technology Program (ASTP), focusing on: (1) the types of submarine technologies researched under ASTP; (2) the status of plans for transferring technology research to the Navy for further development on submarines; and (3) whether the Navy was planning flexibility into attack submarine design to allow for technological changes arising from the research.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to develop criteria, plans, and procedures to ensure that ASTP technologies are adequately considered for transition to the Navy, and that those most promising are transferred. |
Closed – Implemented
DARPA and the Navy have formalized procedures for project management transition. The procedures were published in the ASTP Fiscal Year 1990 Annual Report provided to Congress.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to analyze the ASTP technologies being researched to determine which ones could be cost-effectively provided for in the Seawolf design to facilitate their later incorporation. |
Closed – Implemented
House Report 101-331 on the 1990 Authorization Conference tasked the Director, DARPA, to report on a plan to transition some advanced technology projects to the Navy. The effort is underway for several technologies, including the advanced propulsor and the non-penetrating periscope.
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Topics
Defense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningMarine engineeringMilitary cost controlMilitary research and developmentSubmarinesSystems designTechnology transferWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsTechnology research