Satellite Communications: Strategic Approach Needed for DoD's Procurement of Commercial Satellite Bandwidth

Abstract

In recent years, the Department of Defense (DOD) has come to rely more heavily on commercial satellite communications to plan and support operations and move toward a network-centric warfare environment. DOD acquires commercial satellite bandwidth services to support a variety of critical missions such as surveillance performed by unmanned aerial vehicles. GAO was asked to assess (1) whether DOD's process for acquiring these services is fair to vendors and providers, (2) whether the process meets users' needs, and (3) whether spending on these services is managed effectively and efficiently.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2003
Accession Number
AD1157890

Entities

People

  • William T. Woods

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Bandwidth
  • Best Practices
  • Commerce
  • Competition
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Costs
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Information Systems
  • Networks
  • Procurement
  • Satellite Communications
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites