An Analysis of the Counterair Mission Is Required To Help Ensure That the Air Force Is Buying the Capabilities It Needs

Gao ID: MASAD-83-1 November 5, 1982

GAO examined the extent to which the Air Force conducts mission area analysis to identify counterair deficiencies and requirements.

Determining how to best allocate Air Force resources among the nine mission areas and within the counterair mission, on which billions of dollars are spent annually, is a difficult and complex task. One management tool that can be used to facilitate this task is mission area analysis, a structured, analytical process by which overall mission deficiencies and alternative solutions are identified and evaluated. Mission area analysis provides all levels of management with the ability to obtain a documented analysis and justification explaining why a particular budgeted item is considered to be the most effective solution to correcting a formally identified mission deficiency. GAO found that the Tactical Air Command is not conducting a counterair mission area analysis to identify deficiencies and validate needs. Instead, it uses an array of military judgments and miscellaneous studies in its requirements process. As a result, requirements are based on perceived deficiencies in mission capabilities rather than on an analysis of the mission. Air Force Headquarters has developed a process for performing Air Force-wide mission area analysis which shows strong potential. However, efforts are needed to improve the credibility and acceptance of this process. The individual counterair related programs within the Air Force's annual budget are not traceable back to a well-documented mission area analysis and justification.

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.

Director: C. William Moore Team: General Accounting Office: Mission Analysis and Systems Acquisition Division Phone: (202) 275-8412


The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.