Skip to main content

Electronic Warfare: Multiple Developments of Costly Threat Simulators

NSIAD-88-93 Published: Feb 01, 1988. Publicly Released: Feb 01, 1988.
Jump To:

Highlights

GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) simulator program, specifically the: (1) need for the armed services to avoid paying for the development of duplicate simulators; and (2) acquisition of simulators which misrepresent Soviet threat systems.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that EXCOM and Crossbow-S, or other appropriate DOD elements, execute responsibility and authority for centrally managing simulator programs to provide for timely identification and consolidation of simulator requirements and for disapproval of programs representing unwarranted development.
Closed – Implemented
New charters were drawn up detailing the authority and responsibility of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) overview committees. It gives one committee a management role rather than just oversight. This committee will control all funds for threat simulator development in the future, eliminating separate service accounts.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should require the services to strengthen internal controls over simulator acquisitions by segregating responsibilities for development, testing, and acceptance of simulators as valid representations of the threat.
Closed – Implemented
The services are reviewing and revising internal simulator development, testing, and acceptance to comply with Office of the Secretary of Defense simulator validation procedures. The Air Force developed a standardized process that will be staffed with all services. Navy implementation was completed with publication of the Navy Air Defense Threat Simulator Validation Procedures Manual.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should assign to an appropriate DOD element the responsibility for monitoring the quality of simulators acquired and participating in the acquisition process as necessary to ensure the adequacy of simulators.
Closed – Implemented
The DOD EXCOM committee now has responsibility to provide management, policy, guidance, and program approval for all DOD threat simulator development and acquisition programs. Arm of EXCOM, Crossbow-S, will develop standard simulator validation criteria, review validation test results, and provide technical advice to EXCOM for rendering judgements on the adequacy of the simulators.

Full Report

Full Report (34 pages)

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

National Defense
Air defense systemsComputer modelingDefense cost controlDefense procurementIrregular procurementProgram managementWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsMilitary forcesAcquisition