Evaluation of the Army's Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System
Gao ID: MASAD-81-44 September 15, 1981GAO was requested to evaluate the progress of the Army's Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) program and the Army's plan for adopting components of the Marine Integrated Fire and Air Support System (MIFASS) for use in the AFATDS program.
The Army has decided to modularly improve the existing Tactical Fire Direction System to provide for a future field artillery command and control system. Although this approach, in the opinion of GAO, is the proper choice in terms of operational suitability and timeliness, the Army needs to establish a sound basis to ensure that the most cost-effective system is being acquired to meet user needs. The Army's plans provide for ample equipment competition. However, software will be developed in-house. MIFASS was rejected as a follow-on system candidate, but a reconfigured MIFASS architecture or components may be usable in AFATDS.
RecommendationsOur 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.
Director: Richard Davis Team: General Accounting Office: Mission Analysis and Systems Acquisition Division Phone: (202) 512-3504