Cruise Missile Defense: Progress Made but Significant Challenges Remain
NSIAD-99-68
Published: Mar 31, 1999. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 1999.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) progress in establishing adequate mechanisms for coordinating cruise missile defense programs, focusing on the: (1) organizational structure and mechanisms for coordinating cruise missile defense efforts; (2) potential measures of the progress of coordination efforts; (3) progress of coordination using these measures; (4) challenges that DOD officials believe still must be overcome; and (5) defense against land attack cruise missiles.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | Because the final results of the coordination process will not be known for several years, the Secretary of Defense should develop a time-phased set of interim measures that can be used to assess progress toward a cost-effective, interoperable family of cruise missile defense systems. These measures should include, as a minimum, metrics that will show progress toward developing the operational and system architectures required, resolution of the technical and managerial challenges, demonstration of needed technology, and investment priorities. |
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD could not identify actions taken in response to this recommendation. Agency personnel suggested that GAO search a classified document posted to the Joint Air and Missile Defense database to determine whether recommended actions have been implemented. However, the agency, so far, has been unable to provide GAO with access to the database or the document.
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| Department of Defense | To enable congressional committees responsible for funding and oversight of theater and missile defense activities to have information with which to assess DOD's progress and make appropriate policy and funding decisions, the Secretary of Defense should: (1) incorporate these time-phased measures into the Theater Air and Missile Defense Master Plan; and (2) provide the most recently approved master plan to Congress in a timely manner for annual budget deliberations. |
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD could not identify the actions taken in response to this recommendation. The Department suggested that GAO examine a classified summary posted on the Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense network to determine the changes, if any, that may have been implemented. However, DOD has, so far, been unable to provide GAO with access to the database or the document.
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Topics
Air defense systemsCombat readinessDefense capabilitiesFederal agency reorganizationInteragency relationsMissilesPerformance measuresSurface to air missilesWeapons research and developmentInteroperability