Rationale Justifying the Stated Mission Needs for Cruise Missile
PSAD-78-44: Published: Dec 16, 1977. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 1977.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
In an April 1977 report to Congress, GAO recommended that the Secretary of Defense reevaluate the role of cruise missiles to assure that developments are directed toward specific military requirements that relate to mission needs. It is uncertain whether the Department of Defense has developed mission needs data or whether they will develop this type of information for each variant of cruise missle as their plans and studies proceed.
At this time, with the possible exception of the air launched version, GAO has not had access to data supporting the need for other land attack versions of the cruise missile. Some of the factors that make it difficult to identify specific mission needs include: the broad issues of strategic force planning, NATO requirements and policy considerations related to theater nuclear weapons, and SALT implications. Other complicating factors deal with the versatility of the cruise missile, its relatively low cost, and predictions of high accuracy, reliability, and survivability. The mission need for each variant should be identified. New developments to meet a mission need should proceed in a logical sequence from the identification and assessment of a projected threat, through identification of existing capabilities to accomplish the mission, assessment of the need in terms of a deficiency in existing capability, to development of a plan to explore alternative solutions. Valid mission needs may result from technological opportunities or opportunities to reduce operating costs. The mission need to be met by the Sea Launched Cruise Missile should be clarified.
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. -
Defense Intelligence:
Comprehensive Plan Needed to Improve Stakeholder Engagement in the Development of New Military Intelligence SystemGAO-21-57: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here