Defense's Overall Master Plan for Air Defense Should Consider Certain Issues in Its Development
PSAD-81-15: Published: Dec 5, 1980. Publicly Released: Dec 5, 1980.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
GAO plans to terminate its survey of the Department of Defense's efforts to defend the continental United States against strategic attack. The assignment was intended to determine the extent to which recommendations made in a prior report on atmospheric defense were implemented and the current status of missile and atmospheric defense systems.
GAO noted that, during the fiscal year 1980 appropriations hearings, Congress deferred further funding of selected air defense systems until Defense submitted an air defense master plan for the continental United States. The plan will be provided to Congress before the fiscal year 1982 appropriations hearings. In addition, GAO learned that the Defense Audit Service recently reviewed the air defense program and is expected to issue a final report. The Office of Management and Budget is doing work in the area and recently sent a team to investigate the distant early warning line in Canada. GAO hopes the air defense plan will: (1) identify the atmospheric threat(s) and the probability of occurrence; (2) establish air defense mission(s) priorities reflective of the threat(s); (3) identify and evaluate alternative systems to effectively and efficiently accomplish the mission(s); and (4) be revised periodically to consider the effect of changing policy, threat, and technological advancements. Depending on the overall threat assessment, GAO also hopes that the plan considers whether: (1) command, control, and communication modes are sufficiently secure, jam resistant, and capable of withstanding attack; (2) air defense interceptors are adequately equipped and strategically located; (3) surface to air missiles can or should play a major air defense role; (4) over-the-horizon backscatter radar or a space base system are better; (5) the current airborne warning and control system is conducive; and (6) an opportunity exists to reduce the number of radar sites.
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. -
Defense Production Act:
Opportunities Exist to Increase Transparency and Identify Future Actions to Mitigate Medical Supply Chain Issues:GAO-21-108: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here