Some Land Attack Cruise Missile Acquisition Programs Need To Be Slowed Down
C-MASAD-81-9
Published: Feb 28, 1981. Publicly Released: Feb 28, 1981.
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Highlights
Cruise missiles are subsonic, jet-powered airframes that are being acquired to deliver nuclear or conventional warheads against a variety of targets. GAO reviewed some major areas of concern with regard to matters which affect the acquisition and deployment of these missiles.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should not appropriate additional funds for procurement of either land attack Tomahawk or the Medium Range Air-to-Surface Missiles until the Secretary of Defense comprehensively defines and reconciles overall Defense requirements to attack land targets from standoff ranges characteristic of tactical cruise missiles. | The recommendation should be dropped because the Department of Defense has defined its requirement for a variant of Tomahawk to attack land targets from stand-off ranges. The Medium Range Air-to-Surface Missile program has not been funded by either the Navy or the Air Force in fiscal year 1984. TACMS, a successor to MRASM, is a black program. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should withhold authorization to proceed with full-scale production of any land attack missile with a conventional warhead until the accuracy and survivability of such a system is convincingly demonstrated in realistic operational testing. |
An accomplishment report, A-NSIAD-84-20, shows measurable savings of $192.7 million.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should closely monitor the Air-Launched Cruise Missile program to ensure the resolution of operational testing issues, engine reliability problems, uncertainty about terrain roughness thresholds, and deficiencies in the terrain elevation database prior to deployment. |
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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Topics
MissilesStrategic materialsTestingWeapons systemsCruise missilesSystems acquisitionOperational testingMilitary forcesAcquisition programsAir-launched cruise missile