Status of the Peacekeeper (MX) Weapon System

GAO reviewed the Peacekeeper (MX) weapon system program to assess the Air Force's performance in meeting program acquisition goals and to identify risks in missile production as part of a continuing GAO program to monitor major Department of Defense (D0D) weapon acquisition programs.

The revised Peacekeeper weapon system is part of a modernization program to improve the capabilities of the U.S. strategic forces. GAO found that the Peacekeeper Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) did not reflect the cost growth in the program which is required by DOD instructions. In addition, plans for basing the missiles have been through several revisions, and the basing costs have been merged with missile costs. The Air Force has completed four successful test flights of development missiles and is confident that it can meet the December 1986 deployment date specified by Congress. However, some flight testing will not be completed until after deployment and production of several major components will begin before flight testing. GAO noted that, because Soviet silo hardness has increased significantly since development of Peacekeeper, the probability of inflicting the desired level of damage to Soviet targets may be impaired.

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: Harry R. Finley Team: General Accounting Office: National Security and International Affairs Division Phone: (202) 512-5187