Missile Defense: Opportunities Exist to Reduce Acquisition Risk and Improve Reporting on System Capabilities
Abstract
Since 2002, MDA has spent approximately $105 billion, and it plans to spend about $38 billion more by 2019, to defend against enemy ballistic missiles. MDA is developing a BMDS comprised of a command and control system, sensors that identify incoming threats, and intercepting missiles. For over a decade, GAO has reported on MDA s progress and challenges in developing and fielding the BMDS. GAO is mandated by law to assess the extent to which MDA has achieved its acquisition goals and objectives, as reported through its acquisition baselines, and to report on other acquisition issues as appropriate. This, GAO s 12th annual report, examines progress and challenges in fiscal year 2014 associated with MDA s: (1) individual element testing and asset delivery goals, (2) efforts to reduce acquisition risks, and (3) reporting on the BMDS integrated capability. GAO examined MDA s acquisition reports and assessed them against GAO s acquisition best practices, analyzed baselines reported to discern progress, and interviewed DOD and MDA contractor officials. GAO recommends that, in order to reduce acquisition risk, MDA align future efforts for Aegis BMD and GMD with GAO s knowledge-based acquisition practices. GAO also recommends that the Secretary of Defense direct MDA to report annually to Congress and DOD on the progress it has made in achieving an integrated capability. DOD concurred or partially concurred with all of our recommendations. GAO continues to believe the recommendations are valid as discussed in this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA617392
Entities
People
- Anh Nguyen
- Cristina Chaplain
- David Best
- Helena Brink
- Joe Kirschbaum
- Karen Richey
- Kenneth E. Patton
- Latonya Miller
- Steven Stern
- Wiktor Niewiadomski
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office