Most Critical Testing Still Lies Ahead for Missiles in Theater Nuclear Modernization
MASAD-81-15
Published: Mar 02, 1981. Publicly Released: Mar 02, 1981.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
The Department of Defense is developing two missiles, the Army's Pershing II and the Air Force's Ground Launched Cruise Missile, as part of a program to modernize its theater nuclear forces in Europe. The two missiles are to provide the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with the capability to launch land-based theater nuclear missiles from Western Europe that can strike targets within the Soviet Union. GAO studied the progress being made in developing the missiles for eventual deployment in Europe.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretaries of State and Defense should include in their annual presentations before the appropriate committees, and more frequently if critical events occur, details on the progress made towards achieving the planned modernizing and deployment of the theater nuclear weapons in the context of the December 12, 1979, decision. |
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
|
| Department of State | The Secretaries of State and Defense should include in their annual presentations before the appropriate committees, and more frequently if critical events occur, details on the progress made towards achieving the planned modernizing and deployment of the theater nuclear weapons in the context of the December 12, 1979, decision. |
GAO has no information on the actions taken in response to this recommendation.
|
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
ConcurrencyDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningIntercontinental ballistic missilesMilitary forcesNuclear weapons testingProgram evaluationWeapons systemsInternational organizationsMissiles