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Defense Acquisition: Decision Nears on Medium Extended Air Defense System

NSIAD-98-145 Published: Jun 09, 1998. Publicly Released: Jun 09, 1998.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program, focusing on the: (1) unique capabilities that MEADS will add to U.S. air and missile defense; (2) development cost of MEADS and its affordability within the expected ballistic missile defense budget; and (3) impact that international development will have on MEADS cost and capability.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should take steps to ensure that, for future international programs, the approval process includes careful consideration of the availability of long-term program funding and in-depth assessment of technology transfer issues.
Closed – Implemented
Lower Tier Program Office officials recently told GAO that as the next phase of the MEADS international program is negotiated, DOD is advising their international partners of technology that the United States is unwilling to transfer.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should include security experts in all phases of the negotiations of international programs.
Closed – Implemented
DOD concurred with GAO's recommendation. In response to the recommendation, DOD directed the Ballistic Missile Defense Command's Director for Security and Counterintelligence Directorate to serve as the focal point for all MEADS security issues. While the Director will not participate directly in Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiations, he will support the negotiations by reviewing draft MOU agreements and suggesting needed changes. DOD also appointed a special committee to deal with MEADS technology transfer requests. The committee has secured the release of about 90 percent of the information requested by program participants.

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Topics

Air defense systemsBallistic missile defenseCost analysisDefense budgetsDefense capabilitiesDefense cost controlInternational cooperationMilitary coproduction agreementsTechnology transferWeapons systems