Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses

Air Force Plans Gao ID: NSIAD-93-221 September 30, 1993

The Air Force's Supression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) system is designed to take out enemy air communications, radar, and other systems that are directing surface-to-air missiles and antiair artillery. By the turn of the century, the Air Force plans to retire the aging F-4G "Wild Weasel" SEAD aircraft and eliminate dedicated SEAD units. Pentagon officials acknowledged in 1992 that this plan entails some risk because of the time gap between the retirement of the F-4G and the fielding of enough new SEAD systems to counter decreases in the capabilities of the new systems. The Air Force decided this year to field even fewer SEAD-equipped aircraft with potentially even less capability, further increasing the risk. Yet the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Air Force have identified significant threats that indicate a continuing need for SEAD. Air Force officials say that potential budget cuts and force reductions are driving the decision to eliminate single mission units, such as the F-4G force, because they compete for dollars with the Air Force's high priority F-22 and B-2 programs.

GAO found that: (1) U.S. conventional combat aircraft will face increased risk in future conflicts if the Air Force proceeds with its plans for future SEAD aircraft; (2) the Air Force will retire the aging F-4G SEAD aircraft and eliminate dedicated SEAD units by the turn of the century; (3) the Air Force expects to assign the SEAD mission, as an added task, to units flying F-15 and F-16 aircraft and to equip them with SEAD systems that are less capable than current systems; (4) the Air Force's plans involve some risk because there will be a time gap between the retirement of the F-4G and the fielding of new SEAD systems; (5) the Air Force has identified a continuing need for SEAD to minimize its losses; and (6) future budget reductions and reductions in force will eliminate single mission units such as the F-4G SEAD force because they compete for funding with the Air Force's high priority F-22 and B-2 programs.

Recommendations

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