Attack Warning

Computer modernization at the command center that alerts U.S. and Canadian leaders to enemy missile strikes has been proceeding without an overall design, increasing the risk that the costly and long-delayed warning system won't work as an integrated unit. The computer upgrade at Cheyenne Mountain, which has been underway for the last decade, is proceeding as five individual subsystems without an overall system architecture that describes system and subsystem relationships and requirements or that establishes standards to guide development. As a result, the system may face serious development and integration problems, unable to accommodate mission changes easily. Although the Air Force has told Congress that it can complete the system for $1.58 billion by 1995, it is actually deferring some requirements of the Cheyenne Mountain upgrade, completing only those that its budget and schedule will allow. Consequently, the Air Force is developing a system with less capability than originally planned, since the deferred requirements are to be completed only after system delivery.

GAO found that: (1) the Air Force is currently developing the CMU program as five individual subsystems without an overall system architecture to tie the five subsystems together so that they can function as an integrated unit; (2) until the Air Force defines an overall CMU system architecture, it will encounter serious development and integration problems and cost increases, and will have a system that cannot readily adapt to mission changes; and (3) because of its focus on cost and schedule, the Air Force is developing a system with less capability than it originally planned and has deferred some requirements until after the delivery date.

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.

Director: Team: Phone: