Ballistic Missile Defense

In 1983, the Army tried to rig the first two of four tests of a ballistic missile interceptor in order to deceive the Soviet Union and influence arms control talks. GAO found no evidence that the Defense Department (DOD) deceived Congress about the feasibility of Star Wars technology when it reported that the fourth test in 1984 was successful. Concerns have been raised in Congress that representations about the test might have laid a faulty foundation for the $30-billion investment in the Strategic Defense Initiative. Although the contingency deception plan had been in place for the first two tests of the interceptor, it did not affect their outcomes. Analyses of the fourth and final test data are consistent with the Army's claim that the interceptor and its target collided. Records also support the conclusion that the interceptor was guided during its final maneuvers by its onboard infrared sensor. However, steps were taken to make it easier for the interceptor's sensor to find the target. The Pentagon did not disclose this enhancement of the target's infrared visibility to increase the probability of detection.

GAO found that: (1) DOD had a deception plan to make near misses look as if they were successful hits in order to influence Soviet perceptions of U.S. ballistic missile defense capabilities, but DOD dropped the deception plan before the third HOE test; (2) although some deception hardware remained onboard the target after testing, it did not interfere with normal interceptor performance; (3) DOD never informed Congress of the deception plan; (4) analysis of HOE 4 test results shows that the interceptor and target collided as the Army reported and that the target was destroyed by the collision and not an explosive charge; (5) records show that the interceptor was guided by its onboard infrared sensor and not a homing beacon on the target; (6) DOD reasonably enhanced the target's infrared visibility due to uncertainties about sensor performance; (7) DOD did not report the infrared enhancement to Congress; and (8) the Army and DOD did not misrepresent HOE performance.