Battlefield Automation

Planned Production Decision for Army Control System is Premature Gao ID: NSIAD-92-151 August 10, 1992

The Army is taking a risky approach to testing a major computer system to automate battlefield command, control, and communications. In procuring its Tactical Command and Control System computers after testing only one of the system's five segments, the Army may be spending as much as $1.8 billion on equipment production before knowing whether all five segments work together. This strategy conflicts with congressional guidance stating that the system should be tested as an integrated whole. Other congressional guidance calls on the military to take its time in developing weapons systems so that they will be right the first time. By delaying operational testing, the Army can follow congressional guidance, cut procurement risk, and correct deficiencies that GAO spotted in the planned tests.

GAO found that: (1) the Army will test each ATCCS segment before integration and then measure the network against systemwide requirements; (2) the Army has an individual acquisition strategy, test program, and production and fielding schedule for each segment and will upgrade the software before integrating each segment into the network; (3) the Army plans to start production of the network without testing the automated data exchange between segments and without enhanced communications capabilities, contrary to congressional guidance requiring the Army to procure a fully integrated system; (4) the Army shortened the test schedule for the Maneuver Control System (MCS) and did not allow for sufficient time for personnel to adequately learn how to operate it and incorporate it into standard operating procedures before a planned operational test; (5) contrary to normal practices, the Army deferred development of seven MCS functions, and its operational test will not include the complete software; and (6) the Army plans to field two versions of the computer equipment for the segment, which will increase logistics costs and render one version of the equipment obsolete.

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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