Missile Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Transparency and Accountability

Abstract

This year's report specifically assesses MDA's progress in (1) delivering missile defense assets as scheduled (2) improving accountability and transparency over the past year (3) implementing the European Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) (4) implementing changes to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program (5) implementing the targets revised acquisition strategy identified in 2009, and (6) testing the BMDS and developing its modeling and simulations to assess performance. To assess all six areas of MDA's progress, we examined the accomplishments of nine BMDS elements and supporting efforts that MDA is currently developing and fielding: the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis BMD); Aegis Ashore; BMDS Sensors; Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC); GMD; Precision Tracking and Surveillance System (PTSS); Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS); Targets and Countermeasures; and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). We reviewed individual element responses to GAO data collection instruments, which detailed key accomplishments for fiscal year 2010. The results of these reviews are presented in detail in appendixes to this report and are also integrated as appropriate in our findings related to progress in delivering assets and implementing new initiatives. We also sought to examine MDA's Baseline Execution Reviews of each element's progress, but were unable to assess the supporting backup materials as they were not made available to us until February 2011-the very end of the audit.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA540285

Entities

People

  • Brian Tittle
  • Cristina Chaplain
  • David Best
  • Gwyneth Woolwine
  • Ivy Huebler
  • Latonya Miller
  • Letisha Antone
  • Meredith A. Kimmett
  • Steven Stern
  • Teague Lyons

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Attitude Control Systems
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Congress
  • Control Systems
  • Defense Systems
  • Early Warning Systems
  • Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Reconnaissance Satellites
  • Reliability
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Government
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects