Attack Warning

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the Air Force's acquisition strategy for replacing the Communications System Segment (CSS) of its North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment System, focusing on: (1) whether the Air Force should accept and install the block I semi-automated technical control unit as planned; (2) the extent to which CSS upgrades will satisfy requirements and extend the system's life; and (3) whether the Air Force should develop the block II automated message distribution capability, given the recent reductions in requirements, current system upgrades, and high development risks.

GAO found that the Air Force: (1) has spent about $72 million on the block I unit for the CSS replacement; (2) Electronic Systems Division plans to accept the block I unit, although its critical design deficiencies in software, restart requirements, and wiring standard and equipment incompatibility preclude its installation and use at the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, which houses the data processing and communications subsystems supporting NORAD; (3) plans to allow the contractor to correct identified deficiencies, at no additional cost to the government, during block II development; (4) will correct, through its planned upgrades, all identified, existing CSS problems, such as unreliable message processing, inadequate computer system availability, software and hardware maintenance, and expansion limitations; and (5) cited the need for a common message set, a consistent message load, and a standardized communications protocol before it could make the CSS replacement fully operational.

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.

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