Tactical Intelligence

Joint STARS Needs Current Cost and Operational Effectiveness Analysis Gao ID: NSIAD-93-117 April 28, 1993

The 1985 cost and operational effectiveness analysis for the $9-billion Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is no longer valid. Significant changes have occurred in key Joint STARS concepts, such as the threats it is intended to meet, the environment in which it will operate, and what it will cost. An updated or new analysis could take as long as 18 months to complete depending on its scope. As now planned, the need for and scope of such an analysis may not be determined until six months prior to the full-rate production decision scheduled for September 1995. By waiting that late, the Defense Department could jeopardize the full-rate production schedules if a full 18-month study is required. Deciding now on the scope of an analysis would eliminate this concern.

GAO found that: (1) to support a JSTARS full-rate production decision, the Department of Defense (DOD) needs to develop a new analysis because of changes in threat, operations, and costs; (2) to develop an updated and comprehensive analysis could take up to 18 months, depending on its scope; and (3) the JSTARS full-rate production schedule could be jeopardized if the scope of a new analysis is not timely established.

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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