Defense Acquisitions. Progress Made in Fielding Missile Defense, but Program is Short of Meeting Goals

Abstract

Why GAO Did This Study. By law, GAO annually assesses the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) progress in developing and fielding a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Funded at $8 billion to nearly $10 billion per year, it is the largest research and development program in the Department of Defense (DOD). The program has been managed in 2-year increments, known as blocks. Block 2006, the second BMDS block, was completed in December 2007. GAO assessed MDA's progress in (1) meeting Block 2006 goals for fielding assets, completing work within estimated cost, conducting tests, and demonstrating the performance of the overall system in the field, and (2) making managerial improvements to transparency, accountability, and oversight. In conducting the assessment, GAO reviewed the assets fielded; contractor cost, schedule, and performance; and tests completed during 2007. GAO also reviewed pertinent sections of the U.S. Code, acquisition policy, and the charter of a new missile defense board.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA478804

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Cost Analysis
  • Defense Systems
  • Early Warning Systems
  • Fire Control Radar
  • Law
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Acquisition
  • National Security
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.