Skip to main content

National Defense

Jump To:

Open Recommendations

Weapon Systems Annual Assessment: DOD Is Not Yet Well-Positioned to Field Systems with Speed [Reissued with revisions on Jul. 18, 2024]
GAO-24-106831
Jul 18, 2024
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct the USD(A&S) to issue policy calling for MTA program acquisition strategies to include how the program plans to implement leading practices for product development to deliver fieldable capability with speed, within 5 years. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure the USD(A&S) fully defines goals for DOD's software cadre, to include long-term outcomes and near-term measurable results with time frames. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure the USD(A&S) identifies strategies and resources needed to achieve DOD's goals for its software cadre, including assessing the internal and external factors that could affect achievement of DOD's goals for its software cadre and how to mitigate them. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Army Modernization: Actions Needed to Support Fielding New Equipment
GAO-24-107566
Jul 15, 2024
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should ensure the ReARMM proponent, Headquarters, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7), in coordination with other stakeholders as appropriate, identifies and implements corrective actions the Army can take to reasonably assure that equipment sets meet required condition standards before they are transferred to other units. (Recommendation 1)
Open
The Army concurred with our recommendation. In comments on our report, the Army stated that it will enforce and improve regulatory guidance where necessary to ensure that equipment standards are met and that adequate resources are in place. In April 2024 -- after the release of our CUI version of this report, but before we published GAO-24-107566 -- the Army clarified that additional instructions may be required to successfully cascade equipment, including instructions to synchronize divestment, conduct technical inspections, plan and resource depot maintenance activities, and/or adjust the timing of activities within units' ReARMM lifecycles. As of July 2024, this recommendation remains open.
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should ensure that process managers, in coordination with Headquarters, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7), review and determine opportunities for adjustments to their planning element processes, where appropriate, so that the Army can better complete the planning elements by the time it fields new equipment. (Recommendation 2)
Open
The Army concurred with this recommendation. In comments on our report, the Army stated (among other things) that it has initiated several processes to synchronize the planning for doctrine, organizations, training, leadership development, personnel, facilities, and policies that are to accompany the fielding of new weapon systems and equipment. In April 2024 -- after the issuance of the CUI version of this report, but before we published GAO-24-107566 -- the Army added that it will continue to adjust and optimize these processes, especially for prototypes and emerging systems. As of July 2024, we are leaving this recommendation open.
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should ensure that process managers, in coordination with Headquarters, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7), document, where appropriate, any planning element process adjustments determined necessary to better complete the planning elements by the time the Army fields new equipment. (Recommendation 3)
Open
The Army concurred our recommendation. In comments on our report, the Army stated that it is codifying these process changes in a key Army regulation and in annual orders. In April 2024 -- after the issuance of our CUI version of this report, but before we published GAO-24-107566 -- the Army stated that it also has developed formats for initial training strategies, initial programs of instruction (POI), and initial basis of issue plans (BOIP) that will assist in defining requirements earlier in the materiel development process. As of July 2024, this recommendation remains open.

Missile Defense: Next Generation Interceptor Program Should Take Steps to Reduce Risk and Improve Efficiency
GAO-24-106315
Jun 26, 2024
Show
5 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should task the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment with ensuring the Director, MDA regularly coordinates with the intelligence community, joint staff, and combatant commands throughout NGI development to prioritize and, if necessary, update NGI's threat requirements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should task the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment with ensuring the Director, MDA promptly reports any changes in the threat that may have implications for NGI's threat requirements to appropriate senior DOD leaders, including those on the Missile Defense Executive Board and the Joint Requirements Oversight Council. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should task the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment with ensuring the Director, MDA uses models and simulations that fully represent stressing intercept conditions for NGI performance and technology maturation assessments supporting the program's critical design review and key acquisition decisions. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Director, MDA should develop a plan for budgeting for and expediting the development of all models—including models that represent stressing intercept conditions NGI is expected to encounter—and simulations necessary to support the NGI critical design review and ground testing. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense The Director, MDA should conduct periodic independent organizational assessments of its efforts for implementing a digital engineering environment for the GMD program to support NGI development and incorporate lessons learned into its implementation plans, as needed. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

F-22 Aircraft: Air Force Needs to Better Document Options Before Making Critical Decisions
GAO-24-106639
Jun 18, 2024
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress Congress should consider requiring the Air Force to provide specific types of data and analyses to Congress before making determinations to divest tactical aircraft. These data and analyses should include: cost assessments inclusive of all relevant factors, gaps in capacity and capability created by the divested asset, and realistic strategies for mitigating those gaps as well as the cost of these strategies. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force Before making additional proposals to remove the prohibition on divesting F-22 aircraft, the Secretary of the Air Force should assess and document the cost, schedule, and risks associated with the divestment of these aircraft. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force With regards to upgrading the F-22 Block 20, the Secretary of the Air Force should better assess and document the cost, schedule, and risks associated with upgrading the F-22 Block 20 aircraft before making additional proposals to remove the prohibition to divest them. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages