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Submarine Combat System: BSY-2 Development Risks Must Be Addressed and Production Schedule Reassessed

IMTEC-91-30 Published: Aug 22, 1991. Publicly Released: Sep 06, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO identified technical risks in the Navy's SSN-21 Seawolf attack submarine's AN/BSY-2 (BSY-2) automated combat system, focusing on: (1) software and hardware development, design, testing, and integration; and (2) the use of independent verification and validation.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
The House and Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees should not fund any additional systems beyond the first three until the Secretary of Defense certifies that the initial BSY-2 is sufficiently developed and tested and can provide assurance that the system will satisfy mission requirements.
Closed – Not Implemented
The end of the Cold War and the nation's budget crisis caused Congress to take a hard look at major weapon systems acquisitions. Congress intends to only fund three combat systems.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to: (1) determine the impact of the risks GAO identified on the performance, cost, and current delivery schedule for the combat system; (2) adjust its current development approach, as warranted; and (3) report the results of the assessment and planned actions to mitigate these risks to the House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees.
Closed – Not Implemented
The Department of Defense (DOD) contends that it constantly monitors the risk areas to ensure that BSY-2 will meet program baseline. DOD believes that GAO-identified areas are overstated and that DOD has taken the action it considers warranted.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to ensure that central guidance on unit-testing is developed and issued for use by all BSY-2 programmers and software engineers.
Closed – Implemented
DOD contends that the software test plan and software development plan provide central guidance for unit testing, unit test cases, and unit test procedures.

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Topics

Antisubmarine warfareComputer equipment contractsContract administrationContract performanceInformation systemsNaval procurementProgramming languagesSubmarinesSystems designTesting