Summary

Defense Department satellites support national security, as well as assist in research and development. Since 1980 the Air Force Systems Command has been upgrading its satellite command and control system. GAO reviewed the Air Force's efforts to complete the system upgrade and turn it over to the Air Force Space Command in July 1993. The Air Force's ability to meet that deadline is questionable and depends largely on whether it can fix the system's critical operational deficiencies. Further, the system may be unable to provide the needed capacity and performance because the Air Force has not (1) adequately defined work load requirements for the system, (2) adequately tested the system, (3) set up an effective capacity and performance management system, or (4) obtained adequate software documentation. If these problems are not resolved quickly, the Air Force will be forced to continue using the Current Data System for some command and control functions and spending $30 million annually on that system, which is considered outdated.

GAO found that: (1) the Air Force may not meet the July 1993 deadline because of critical CCS operational deficiencies; (2) slow progress in correcting deficiencies combined with the growing number of satellites CCS is expected to control, increases the risk that the Air Force will not complete CCS on time; (3) the Air Force has not developed an adequate capacity and performance management program, defined work-load requirements, adequately tested CCS, or obtained adequate software documentation; and (4) if the Air Force does not resolve those problems, it will have to continue using its old system, the Current Data System, spending $30 million annual to maintain an outdated system.