The Navy's Rapidly Deployable Surveillance System Needs To Be Reassessed

Gao ID: C-MASAD-83-8 January 26, 1983

GAO reviewed the Navy's Rapidly Deployable Surveillance System (RDSS) which is being developed as a surveillance sensor that also has tactical applications.

RDSS will consist of a field of moored, long-life acoustic buoys which will normally be aircraft deployed. The system would be used in areas where other undersea surveillance systems have no coverage, are not available, or their deployment is not practicable. The Navy is currently working with two versions known as Mod 0 and Mod 1. GAO believes that the Navy needs to reassess the benefits of Mod 0 in relation to alternatives not previously considered, such as a long-life sonobuoy now under development. Also, the Navy needs to further evaluate Mod 1 to better determine its cost effectiveness. GAO also believes that a question exists as to whether the Navy should work toward starting production of Mod 0 for use in a surveillance role. GAO concluded that it might be more desirable to work toward developing and producing the complete surveillance system.

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: Donald E. Day Team: General Accounting Office: Mission Analysis and Systems Acquisition Division Phone: (202) 275-8408


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