Tactical Intelligence: Joint STARS Full-Rate Production Decision Was Premature and Risky
NSIAD-97-68
Published: Apr 25, 1997. Publicly Released: Apr 25, 1997.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) recent decision to commit to the full-rate production of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), focusing on whether: (1) the system had demonstrated a level of maturity through testing to justify a full-rate production commitment; (2) DOD considered and resolved important cost and performance issues prior to making its decision; and (3) there are future actions that could reduce program risk.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| If Congress agrees that there is unnecessarily high risk in the Joint STARS program and believes the risk should be reduced, it may wish to require that the Air Force obtain DOT&E approval of a revised test and evaluation master plan (and all plans for the tests called for in that master plan) for follow-on operational testing to include adequate coverage of gaps left by prior testing and include testing of any added features considered part of the standard production configuration and that DOT&E considers key system components. |
Closed – Implemented
|
No further congressional action is now expected. |
| If Congress agrees that there is unnecessarily high risk in the Joint STARS program and believes the risk should be reduced, it may wish to require that DOT&E provide a follow-on test and evaluation report to Congress evaluating the adequacy of all testing performed to judge operational effectiveness and suitability for combat and a definitive statement stating whether the system has demonstrated operational effectiveness and suitability. |
Closed – Implemented
|
No further congressional action now expected. |
| If Congress agrees that there is unnecessarily high risk in the Joint STARS program and believes the risk should be reduced, it may wish to require that DOD develop and provide Congress an analysis of alternatives report on the Joint STARS air platform that considers the suitability of the current platform and other cost effective alternatives, and the life cycle costs of the current platform and best alternatives. |
Closed – Implemented
|
No further congressional action now expected. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Air Force to perform an analysis of possible alternatives to the current Joint STARS air platform, to include placing this system on a new airframe. |
Closed – Implemented
No further DOD action more compliant with the recommendation is now expected.
|
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Topics
ConcurrencyCost effectiveness analysisDecision makingLife cycle costsMilitary aircraftMilitary cost controlMilitary procurementOperational testingRadar equipmentTesting