ICBM Modernization

Rail Garrison Production Decision and Launch Car Acquisition Should Be Delayed Gao ID: NSIAD-90-19 December 7, 1989

GAO reviewed the Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile modernization efforts, focusing on the Department of Defense's (DOD) decision to rebase Peacekeeper missiles to rail garrisons, which provided the Air Force an opportunity to revise its missile launch schedule and more fully consider operational test and evaluation results before deciding to begin initial and full-rate production.

GAO found that: (1) although DOD planned initial operational capability for the rebased missiles in 1992 and full operational capability in 1994, the Air Force did not plan any operational testing and evaluation of the complete system prior to the initial production decision; (2) DOD scheduled an initial low-rate production decision for the missile launch cars for 1990, with a full production decision in 1992; (3) the Air Force planned to purchase 73 percent of the launch cars in connection with the initial production decision, which would amount to a full-rate production decision, in the absence of any complete testing; and (4) delaying production could preclude potential cost growth, program slippages, and performance shortfalls.

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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