MISSILE DEFENSE: Knowledge-Based Decision Making Needed to Reduce Risks in Developing Airborne Laser
Abstract
The Air Force was unable to meet the Airborne Laser's original cost and schedule goals because it established those goals before it fully understood the level of effort that would be required to develop the critical system technology needed to meet the user's requirements. When the Air Force launched the Airborne Laser acquisition program, Department of Defense policy required that program cost and schedule goals be established. In 1996, at program launch, the Air Force did not have enough knowledge about the technology challenges facing the program. As a result, the Air Force underestimated the complexity of the engineering task at hand and misjudged the amount of time and money that the program would need. Some critical technologies that the system's design depends upon remain immature, making it very difficult, even today, for analysts to establish realistic cost and schedule goals. The Missile Defense Agency's new strategy for developing the Airborne Laser incorporates some knowledge-based practices that characterize successful programs. For example, one practice that the agency implemented is a requirements process that gives the agency the flexibility to develop a system that has some capability without being held to requirements that cannot be met with currently available technology. A second knowledge-based practice is the provision of additional time and facilities for testing. Increased testing allows agency officials to reach a better understanding of the capabilities of the technology so that they can establish more realistic requirements and ultimately more accurate estimates of the time and money needed to meet those requirements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404250
Entities
People
- Christopher Shays
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office