Production of Some Major Weapon Systems Began With Only Limited Operational Test and Evaluation Results

Gao ID: NSIAD-85-68 June 19, 1985

GAO reviewed selected major weapon system programs and the performance of operational test and evaluation (OT&E) to determine: (1) whether the Department of Defense (DOD) obtains sufficient OT&E results before production begins on weapon systems that are concurrently developed and produced; and (2) the adequacy of OT&E information contained in annual DOD Congressional Data Sheets.

GAO found that planned OT&E for concurrently developed and produced weapon systems is not performed before beginning production start-up. GAO believes that OT&E results are needed to provide early identification of problems and to help prevent costly retrofits and performance shortcomings. GAO also found that test results omitted or misrepresented in congressional data sheets do not adequately demonstrate weapon system performance capabilities and create misleading impressions of those capabilities. One reason for this may be that the military services' instructions on preparing the data sheets do not contain specific guidance on the type of information that should be included in these documents.

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: Paul F. Math Team: General Accounting Office: National Security and International Affairs Division Phone: (202) 512-4587


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