Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: DOD Can Better Assess and Integrate ISR Capabilities and Oversee Development of Future ISR Requirements
Abstract
The Department of Defense's (DoD) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities -- such as satellites and unmanned aircraft systems -- are crucial to military operations, and demand for ISR capabilities has increased. For example, DoD plans to invest $28 billion over the next 7 years in 20 airborne ISR systems alone. Congress directed DoD to fully integrate its ISR capabilities, also known as the ISR enterprise, as it works to meet current and future ISR needs. GAO was asked to do the following: (1) describe the challenges, if any, that DoD faces in integrating its ISR enterprise; (2) assess DoD's management approach for improving integration of its future ISR investments; and (3) evaluate the extent to which DoD has implemented key activities to ensure proposed new ISR capabilities fill gaps, are not duplicative, and use a joint approach to meeting warfighters' needs. GAO assessed DoD's integration initiatives and 19 proposals for new ISR capabilities. They supplemented this analysis with discussions with DoD officials. GAO recommends that DoD develop a future ISR enterprise vision and that DoD take steps to improve its process for identifying future ISR capabilities. DoD agreed or partially agreed with some recommendations, but it disagreed with the recommendation to review staffing levels needed for key oversight activities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA480234
Entities
People
- Catherine H. Brown
- Davi M. D'agostino
- Frank Cristinzio
- Gabrielle A. Carrington
- Grace Coleman
- Jay Smale
- Karen Thornton
- Margaret G. Morgan
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office