Battlefield Automation

The Army Tactical Command and Control System is a $20-billion effort to improve the coordination and control of combat forces by automating such functions as field artillery, tactical intelligence, and forward area air defense. From December 1990 through June 1992, program schedules changed for seven of the nine segments comprising the system; six segments slipped and one segment was speeded up. The changes were mainly due to alignment of segment schedules, test site availability, software development problems, and integration of existing capabilities. Army estimates show that, since 1990, system costs fell by $2.8 billion due to Army force structure reductions and termination of program components because of the diminished Soviet threat. GAO remains concerned about the: (1) Army's plan to begin procurement of the system without demonstrating the automated exchange of data among all segments; (2) lack of time available for training test unit personnel; and (3) acquisition strategy that defers system functions and increases logistical support costs.

GAO found that: (1) from December 1990 through June 1992 program schedules changed for seven of the nine segments that comprise ATCCS; (2) the segments are in various stages of development and acquisition, ranging from full-scale development to fielding; (3) since 1990, estimated consolidated ATCCS costs have decreased from $23.3 billion to $20.5 billion; and (4) the large decrease is due to Army force structure reductions and termination of program components in response to the reduced Soviet threat.