Battlefield Automation: Army Needs to Reevaluate Air Defense Radar Acquisition Programs
NSIAD-91-91
Published: May 03, 1991. Publicly Released: Jun 04, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's acquisition and concurrent development of: (1) the Forward Area Air Defense System, (FAADS), an off-the-shelf ground-based sensor (GBS) radar system; (2) multirole survivable radar (MRSR), an advanced radar technology for potential multiple uses; and (3) an interim lightweight radar for its mobile light divisions.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should, before entering FAADS GBS production of MRSR full-scale development, evaluate the cost-effectiveness of selecting one of those programs to meet both corps and division air defense requirements based on the demonstrations and evaluations of those systems scheduled to be completed by the end of fiscal year 1992. |
The Army's air defense radar programs and requirements have changed. This recommendation is no longer applicable.
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| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should consider the availability of interim lightweight radars should they be needed to fill the more critical needs and allow time to select and field one future radar, or merge the radar programs, to satisfy both corps and division long-term requirements. This assessment should consider experiences gained during Operation Desert Storm. |
On September 13, 1991, Col. Edwards, Office of the Secretary of Defense/Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence, stated that the Army evaluated the need for lightweight radars to fill the gap in air defense radar capability. The Army decided to field the gap filler to light divisions and decided not to field it to the heavy divisions.
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Topics
Weapons systemsAir defense systemsArmy procurementCombat readinessConcurrencyCost effectiveness analysisDefense capabilitiesProduct evaluationRadar equipmentTesting