Procurement of DSCS II Satellites F-17 and F-18

Gao ID: LCD-79-112 April 16, 1979

A review was made of the plan to purchase two satellites for the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) Phase II program.

The requirement of the Department of Defense for the Phase II satellites is not justified. The Defense Communications Agency predicted that a gap might occur in communications before DSCS Phase III satellites are scheduled to be in orbit. The problem with this theory, however, is that the two Phase II satellites could not be launched in time to fill any gap between the two phases. The proposed costs for the two Phase II satellites and launch associated costs are about $103.8 million. The two Phase II satellites could conceivably serve a backup role in the event the Phase III experience turns out to be less reliable than current predictions; however, the Air Force maintains that the Phase III satellites' estimated production schedule is attainable. It appears, therefore, that the procurement of the two Phase II satellites is not needed.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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