Defense Acquisition:
U.S.-German Examinations of the MLRS Terminal Guidance Warhead Program
NSIAD-92-7: Published: Oct 31, 1991. Publicly Released: Oct 31, 1991.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
(617) 788-0555
contact@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
GAO and the German Federal Court of Audit examined the Army's Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Terminal Guidance Warhead (TGW) Program, focusing on the program's requirements, schedule, performance, and cost.
GAO found that: (1) the Army selected a different missile system for full-scale development, but program executives and the MLRS TGW project office reported they might seek to continue the program into full-scale development; (2) there is a continuing requirement for a target-sensing anti-armor submunition at the MLRS TGW rocket range, and MLRS TGW will have advantages over other systems; (3) the MLRS rocket could deliver the Brilliant Anti-Armor Submunition, and the technical data from the MLRS TGW program would be sufficient to apply to other programs; and (4) GAO questioned the basis for proceeding with full-scale development of MLRS TGW because of funding constraints, the Army's selection of another system for use at longer ranges, and the sufficiency of technical data acquired. The Federal Court of Audit found that: (1) numerous German Army and Air Force weapon systems, including MLRS TGW, were designed to fight second-echelon armored forces; and (2) separate analyses concluded that an overlapping German national system in development was more cost-effective at most ranges than MLRS TGW.
Recommendation for Executive Action
Status: Closed - Implemented
Comments: On May 5, 1992, the U.S. Army formally notified the partner nations that the United States would withdraw from the MLRS/TGW program at the end of the System Demonstration Substage (SDS). SDS ended on February 14, 1994, and the United States withdrew from the MLRS TGW program.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should reassess the need for the MLRS TGW if the Army seeks to continue to full-scale development, considering all the other systems in development and procurement that could be used to fill the requirement.
Agency Affected: Department of Defense
Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations
»
Jan 21, 2021
-
Close Air Support:
Actions Needed to Enhance Friendly Force Tracking Capabilities and Fully Evaluate TrainingGAO-21-99: Published: Jan 21, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2021.
Jan 19, 2021
-
GPS Modernization:
DOD Continuing to Develop New Jam-Resistant Capability, But Widespread Use Remains Years AwayGAO-21-145: Published: Jan 19, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2021.
Jan 14, 2021
-
Columbia Class Submarine:
Delivery Hinges on Timely and Quality Materials from an Atrophied Supplier BaseGAO-21-257: Published: Jan 14, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2021. -
Department of Defense:
Actions Needed to Improve Accounting of Intradepartmental TransactionsGAO-21-84: Published: Jan 14, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2021.
Jan 12, 2021
-
DOD Critical Technologies:
Plans for Communicating, Assessing, and Overseeing Protection Efforts Should Be CompletedGAO-21-158: Published: Jan 12, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 12, 2021.
Dec 10, 2020
-
Climate Resilience:
DOD Coordinates with Communities, but Needs to Assess the Performance of Related Grant ProgramsGAO-21-46: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020. -
Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations:
DOD Needs to Address Governance and Oversight Issues to Help Ensure SuperiorityGAO-21-64: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020.
Dec 2, 2020
-
Navy and Marine Corps:
Services Continue Efforts to Rebuild Readiness, but Recovery Will Take Years and Sustained Management AttentionGAO-21-225T: Published: Dec 2, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 2, 2020.
Nov 20, 2020
-
GAO Audits Involving DOD:
Status of Efforts to Schedule and Hold Timely Entrance ConferencesGAO-21-185R: Published: Nov 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
-
Defense Acquisitions:
Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture Would Benefit from Defined Goals and GovernanceGAO-21-68: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here