Antisubmarine Warfare

Tactical Surveillance Sonobuoy and Related Software Need to Be Tested Together Gao ID: NSIAD-91-41 January 9, 1991

GAO reviewed the Navy's revised acquisition strategy for the Tactical Surveillance Sonobuoy Program for developing sonobuoys to detect noises radiating from submarines and transit information by radio to aircraft.

GAO found that: (1) in 1988, the Navy revised its original acquisition strategy to include low-rate initial production of sonobuoys before the completion of operational test and evaluation of aircraft software that is integral to sonobuoy performance; (2) the Navy's revised acquisition strategy has added further risks to the program, since the Navy may need to modify the sonobuoys if software deficiencies become apparent during the operational test and evaluation; (3) although the Navy believed that separate testing of sonobuoys and software would isolate problems, successful testing of the sonobuoy alone would not guarantee that it would work with the software; (4) further delays in the deployment of the aircraft software would delay the Navy's use of the sonobuoys for some time after their delivery; (5) the revised acquisition strategy contradicted Navy guidance requiring operational test and evaluation of an entire system before authorizing production; and (6) the characteristics of the Tactical Surveillance Sonobuoy Program did not present an exception to this guidance.

Recommendations

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