Ballistic Missile Defense: Issues Concerning Acquisition of THAAD Prototype System.
Abstract
The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the Army plan to acquire a Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) User Operational Evaluation System (UOES)-an early prototype version of the final THAAD system. UOES is intended to (1) allow military users to influence the THAAD system design, (2) permit an early operational assessment of the system's capabilities, and (3) provide a system that could be deployed in a national emergency. U0ES will consist primarily of refurbished components acquired for the system's demonstration and validation phase, although the Army plans to purchase 40 U0ES interceptors to provide the deployable system capability. Pursuant to its basic legislative responsibilities, the General Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed the THAAD U0E5 program to determine whether planned testing would reasonably demonstrate the capabilities of U0E5 as an interim system before funds are committed to interceptor production. GAO addressed this report to the committees of jurisdiction because it identifies problems and calls for corrective action that the Department of Defense has indicated an unwillingness to take. GAO suggested that the Congress may wish to take the necessary action to ensure that DOD addresses the problems GAO has identified. This report does not address the overall value of the THAAD system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA311147
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office