Navy Acquisition

AN/BSY-1, a computer-based combat system intended for nuclear-power attack submarines, is designed to detect, classify, track, and launch weapons at enemy targets. GAO found that the AN/BSY-1 does not have all of the capabilities originally planned. It does not distribute data as quickly or have as many data processing units, and it lacks some of the redundancy and expansion space planned for in the earlier program. The Navy's developmental testing and evaluation of AN/BSY-1, completed in October 1990, generally concluded that the system's goals were achieved. The shipbuilders were awarded about $218 million for adjustments arising from AN/BSY-1 and other ship design changes. The shipbuilders will also experience schedule delays averaging 19 months; however, GAO was unable to determine the amounts of the awards and delay caused solely by combat system problems.

GAO found that: (1) in 1980, the Navy began developing SUBACS for SSN-688, but when SUBACS experienced difficulties, the Navy divided it into AN/BSY-1 for SSN-688 and AN/BSY-2 for the Seawolf class nuclear attack submarine; (2) due to an accelerated ship installation schedule, AN/BSY-1 is less capable than SUBACS, since it does not distribute data as quickly, does not have as many data processing units, and lacks redundancy and expansion space to overcome malfunctions; (3) in October 1990, the Navy completed developmental testing and evaluation of AN/BSY-1 and concluded that, in most areas, it met or exceeded its expected performance; (4) AN/BSY-1 performance varied from the expected performance in such areas as sonar variance, longevity, firing system variance, and problem identification variances, but the Navy planned to correct those performance deficiencies; and (5) SUBACS and AN/BSY-1 design and development problems increased the Navy's costs by about $218 million and delayed SSN-688 completion by an average of 19 months.