Communications Acquisition

Army Still Needs to Determine Battlefield Communications Capability Gao ID: NSIAD-93-33 November 4, 1992

In two analyses completed in 1991, the Army concluded that three planned communications systems would handle the work load generated by the Army Tactical Command and Control System (ATCCS), a collection of automated systems handling battlefield information. The analyses, however, are fraught with deficiencies that bring into question whether the communications systems will adequately support ATCCS. For example, the Army (1) did not use an appropriate threat scenario, (2) did not verify or accredit the model used to do the analyses, (3) used data information on users' communications requirements, and (4) included limitations that weakened the analyses. The Army is trying to correct some of these limitations. In response to the reduced Soviet threat, the downsizing of the U.S. military, and the ongoing changes in war-fighting doctrine, the Army is reviewing ATCCS to see whether its system requirements need revising. Any revisions could affect the communications support needed for ATCCS.

GAO noted that: (1) the three communication systems would have the capabilities to meet the workload generated by the ATCCS component system; and (2) the Army's analyses of the component systems contained deficiencies that prevented it from ensuring that the communications systems provided adequate support for ATCCS. GAO found that the Army: (1) did not use the appropriate foreign threat scenario to analyze the workload; (2) used outdated information to analyze user communication requirements; (3) failed to consider human error and radio interference; and (4) failed to comply with independent verification, validation, and accreditation requirements. GAO also found that the Army's review of its requirements and communications support needed for ATCCS could change because of the reduced Soviet threat, the down-sizing of the U.S. military, and changes in combat doctrine.

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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