Antiarmor Weapons Acquisitions: Assessments Needed to Support Continued Need and Long-Term Affordability
NSIAD-93-49
Published: Mar 04, 1993. Publicly Released: Mar 04, 1993.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) process for justifying new antiarmor weapon systems acquisitions, focusing on whether the process adequately evaluates: (1) the minimum needs to defeat the threat; (2) if new procurements duplicate current capabilities; and (3) new system affordability.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should assess the continued need for the antiarmor acquisitions currently planned in light of the significant changes in threat. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD is conducting a 2-year antiarmor mission area analysis. In describing the problem to be addressed by the study, DOD cited GAO's March 1993 report and the concern in the report that analyses supporting the need for antiarmor weapons had not been updated since changes in the threat. The stated purpose of the study is to examine antiarmor capabilities in order to determine priority among competing developmental antiarmor systems. This cross-service study will: (1) examine the effectiveness of selected mixes of weapon systems and munitions in light of the revised threat environment; and (2) develop recommendations on the disposition of antiarmor programs currently under consideration by DOD.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the services are not acquiring antiarmor systems that unnecessarily duplicate existing capabilities because they did not adequately consider alternatives in other services. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD is conducting a 2-year antiarmor mission area analysis. In describing the problem to be addressed by the study, DOD cited GAO's March 1993 report and the concern in the report that analyses are often limited to a single service or mission. The stated purpose of the study is to examine antiarmor capabilities in order to determine priority among competing developmental antiarmor systems. This cross-service study will: (1) examine the effectiveness of selected mixes of weapon systems and munitions in light of the revised threat environment; and (2) develop recommendations on the disposition of antiarmor programs currently under consideration by DOD.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require that the services comply with the regulations to conduct assessments of the long-term affordability of antiarmor acquisitions as required by the DOD 5000 regulations. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD is currently conducting a 2-year antiarmor mission area analysis. In describing the problem to be addressed by the study, DOD cited GAO's March 1993 report and the concern in the report that long-term affordability is not fully considered. The stated purpose of the study is to examine antiarmor capabilities in order to determine priority among competing developmental antiarmor systems. This cross-service study will: (1) examine the effectiveness of selected mixes of weapon systems and munitions in light of the revised threat environment; and (2) develop recommendations on the disposition of antiarmor programs currently under consideration by DOD.
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Topics
Weapons systemsDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningDefense cost controlDefense procurementFuture budget projectionsGround warfareMilitary land vehiclesMilitary materielMissile warheads