Navy Mine Warfare: Plans to Improve Countermeasures Capabilities Unclear
NSIAD-98-135
Published: Jun 10, 1998. Publicly Released: Jun 10, 1998.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Navy's mine countermeasures efforts, focusing on the: (1) Navy's plans for improving mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities; (2) status of current research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) programs; and (3) process the Department of Defense (DOD) used to prepare the annual certification required by Public Law 102-190.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| The certification process has increased DOD's and the Navy's attention to the MCM mission. Since the certification requirement is scheduled to expire this year, Congress may wish to consider extending the annual certification requirement until the Navy has determined the mix of on-board and special purpose forces it will maintain in the future and has fielded effective, on-board MCM capabilities. |
Closed – Implemented
|
The Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 extended the suggested certification requirement. |
| To strengthen the certification process, Congress may wish to consider amending the requirement to ensure that the participation by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, occurs before the Navy's fiscal year budget is submitted to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. |
Closed – Implemented
|
The Congress did not amend the certification process when it was extended through 2003. However, DOD said that the Navy's mine countermeasures capability is assessed annually by the Joint Staff and that the results of the assessment are provided to the Chairman and are used as input in the development of the President's budget. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of the Navy, should determine the mix of on-board and special purpose forces DOD plans to maintain in the future and commit the funding deemed necessary for the development and sustainment of these desired capabilities. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD completed the two assessments of the cost and effective mix of dedicated and organic mine countermeasures forces. The results were used to shape the fiscal year 2000 budget request and resulted in $719 million being added to the naval mine countermeasures in the FY2000 budget estimate submission across the FYDP over FY1999 resources levels.
|
| Joint Chiefs of Staff | The Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of the Navy, should determine the mix of on-board and special purpose forces DOD plans to maintain in the future and commit the funding deemed necessary for the development and sustainment of these desired capabilities. |
Closed – Implemented
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in conjunction with the secretaries of defense and the navy have established a process to determine the proper mix of organic and dedicated countermine assets.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of the Navy, should determine the mix of on-board and special purpose forces DOD plans to maintain in the future and commit the funding deemed necessary for the development and sustainment of these desired capabilities. |
Closed – Implemented
The Secretary of the Navy, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have established a process to determine the appropriate mix of organic and dedicated countermine assets.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to sustain the special purpose MCM forces until the Navy has demonstrated and fielded effective, on-board capabilities. |
Closed – Implemented
The Secretary of Defense directed the Navy to sustain its special-purpose MCM forces until the organic capability was acquired.
|
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Topics
Defense capabilitiesExplosivesNaval procurementNaval warfareOperational testingWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsU.S. NavyMilitary forcesMine warfare