Summary

In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the purpose and status of five programs for modernizing the Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment (TW/AA) system's data processing and communications capabilities.

GAO noted that the: (1) Communications Systems Segment Replacement Program is intended to ensure uninterrupted communications in support of ballistic missile warning, air defense, and space defense missions; (2) Space Defense Operations Center IV Program will automate manual space defense functions, enhance space surveillance automated functions, and result in a single integrated data processing system for both; (3) Command Center Processing and Display System Replacement Program will display ballistic missile warning and nuclear detonation information at primary command centers and replace the current missile warning data processing system; (4) Survivable Communications Integration System will provide the capability to transmit critical missile warning messages simultaneously over multiple communications systems; and (5) Granite Sentry Program will perform a variety of attack warning and assessment missions and replace several existing air defenses. GAO found that the initial blocks or stages of all five TW/AA programs are under full-scale development, which includes developing, engineering, fabricating, and testing all items necessary for system support. GAO also found that the estimated program acquisition cost through fiscal year 1992 is: (1) $242.7 million for communications replacement; (2) $390.2 million for the space defense center; (3) $266.1 million for the command center system; (4) $122.2 million for survivable communications integration; and (5) $137 million for Granite Sentry.