Importance and Prevalence of Embedded Computer Systems and Oversight of This Technology by the Office of the Secretary of Defense

GAO discussed the Department of Defense's (DOD) increasing incorporation of embedded computer resources within major weapons systems. GAO noted that: (1) embedded computer resources had significant roles in the functioning of virtually all defense weapons systems, and it was conceivable that all major weapons systems could be computer-controlled in the future; (2) DOD investment in mission-critical software increased from about $9 billion in 1985 to $30 billion in 1990; (3) embedded computer resources typically accounted for less than 10 percent of the development costs for weapons systems; (4) problems with embedded resources have resulted in weapons system cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls, and correcting such problems could become a significant but hidden cost of weapons system development; (5) the DOD process for overseeing weapons system development did not focus management attention on embedded computer systems or their technical and managerial risks; and (6) DOD established an executive-level group to review its oversight of software development, was revising a directive to provide more rigorous management attention to the management of embedded computer resources, and was developing a 5-year plan for improving its software acquisition and management approach.