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Countervailing Strategy Demands Revision of Strategic Force Acquisition Plans

MASAD-81-35 Published: Aug 05, 1981. Publicly Released: Aug 05, 1981.
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Highlights

GAO undertook a review of the major issues concerning the effect of recent changes in U.S. deterrence strategy on the performance requirements of strategic command, control, and communications systems.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Congress should require the Secretary of DOD develop an acquisition strategy that clearly delineates the programs needed to meet the requirements of countervailing strategy and shows the timeframes when the capabilities can be available.
Closed
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Congress should give special attention to the priorities and funding for command, control, and communications programs because of their vital role in implementing countervailing strategy.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of DOD should develop an acquisition strategy that clearly delineates the programs needed to meet the requirements of countervailing strategy and shows the timeframes when the capabilities can be available. This strategy should be outlined in a plan and submitted to Congress as part of the next annual budget presentation by DOD. At a minimum, this plan should: (1) clearly establish the objectives of countervailing strategy, define the critical characteristics of command, control, and communications systems and weapons systems, and establish performance requirements for those characteristics; (2) identify the combinations of force characteristics needed to implement current strategy and the timeframe in which they are needed; (3) identify the specific programs designed to provide the needed characteristics in more than one component of the Triad; and (4) provide an acquisition schedule showing when the needed characteristics can be available.
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

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Topics

Command control communications systemsDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningDefense procurementNuclear warfareStrategic forcesStrategic materialsWeapons systemsNuclear weaponsMissiles