Strategic Defense System: Stable Design and Adequate Testing Must Precede Decision to Deploy
IMTEC-90-61
Published: Jul 06, 1990. Publicly Released: Jul 19, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed why the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) will not be able to support currently scheduled full-scale development or deployment decisions on any part of Phase I of the Strategic Defense System.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should not fund full-scale development for any element of Phase I until SDIO has stabilized the architecture and has demonstrated the effectiveness of the system through integrated system-level tests in real time, using hardware and software prototypes with human intervention. This would include not providing $265 million for the Boost Surveillance and Tracking System (BSTS) in FY 1991. However, if the Department of Defense needs BSTS for another mission, independent and separate from the Strategic Defense System, it should be justified and funded to meet that mission and should no longer be considered an element of the Strategic Defense System. |
Closed – Implemented
|
The Senate and House Armed Services Committees have denied $265 million for full-scale development of BSTS in 1991. An accomplishment report was submitted to the Office of Policy. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should advise the President to defer a decision to deploy any element of the Phase I system until SDIO has stabilized the architecture and has demonstrated the effectiveness of the system through integrated system-level tests in real time, using system hardware and software prototypes with human intervention. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The 1993 Presidential decision to deploy the Strategic Defense System has been postponed to at least 1995. SDI is trying to stabilize the architecture and recognizes the need for integrated system-level testing. Since the near-term presidential decision point has now been pushed, the recommendation is no longer relevant.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should ensure that required oversight by the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) is followed. The Board should more closely monitor system design, development, testing, and evaluation. |
Closed – Implemented
DAB will conduct a program review in May 1991 and a formal system review in December 1991.
|
| Department of Defense | When the program's architecture is stable, the Secretary of Defense should request that Congress reinstate funding for the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to provide an independent system-level assessment for the Strategic Defense System. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Defense agrees that operational testing of the Strategic Defense System needs to be performed. However, since phase I is no longer the target architecture, and deployment decisions have been postponed to 1995, the recommendation is no longer relevant.
|
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Air defense systemsBudget cutsCost overrunsDefense cost controlMilitary communicationMilitary satellitesSystems designTestingWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsSystems testing