Military Space Programs: Comprehensive Analysis Needed and Cost Savings Available (GAO/T-NSIAD-94-164); Statement of Louis J. Rodrigues, Director, Systems Development and Production Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division

Rodrigues, Louis J. and United States General Accounting Office

Published by United States General Accounting Office, Washington DC, 1994

About this Item

[2], 7, [3] pages. Footnotes. This is a "Testimony before the Subcommittee on Acquisition, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives". DOD's action to terminate the most recent DSP follow-on program and begin a new effort provides an opportunity to fully assess the needs for early missile warning information. DOD's current plans to replace DSP with ALARM will require a comprehensive analysis that includes (1) reviewing and validating operational requirements, (2) selecting the most cost-effective alternative from plausible candidate systems, (3) ensuring that the system selected is affordable, (4) demonstrating that an adequate transition can be made from DSP to ALARM to avoid coverage gaps, and (5) evaluating the launch vehicle implications for DSP. Concerning the Milstar program, DOD could save over $2 billion if it determines that not acquiring the last two satellites under the current plan would not create an undue operational risk in the short term. Such a decision would need to be accompanied by a plan to accelerate the development of an enhanced Milstar that is smaller in size, lighter in weight, lower in costs, and capable of being launched on a smaller vehicle than the Titan IV. Accelerating the enhanced Milstar effort may require some additional investment in the short run. DSP satellites have been deployed for over 20 years, and DOD's efforts to replace DSP with more modern systems have encountered several setbacks. For example, in the early 1980s, the Advanced Warning System never fully materialized because of immature technology and high costs. In the late 198Os, DOD spent about $1 billion on the Boost Surveillance and Tracking System before discontinuing research and development in 1990. For fiscal years 1992 through 1994, the Congress appropriated $515 million for the Follow-on Early Warning System (FEWS) before DOD terminated the program in late 1993 based on affordability reasons. In late February 1994, the Air Force selected ALARM to be DSP's replacement. Its plans are to release a draft request for proposal in June 1994, initiate research and development in fiscal year 1995, have a flight-ready prototype satellite available by late 1997, satellite in 2004 and deliver the first operational ALARM is to be smaller than DSP with an emphasis on greater support to tactical forces.

Seller Inventory # 91326

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Military Space Programs: Comprehensive Analysis Needed and Cost Savings Available (GAO/T-NSIAD-94-164); Statement of Louis J. Rodrigues, Director, Systems Development and Production Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division
• Publisher: United States General Accounting Office, Washington DC
• Publication Date: 1994
• Binding: Wraps
• Edition: Presumed First Edition, First Printing.
• Condition: Very good