Defense Department efforts to develop and field nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) systems and to meet cost, schedule and performance goals have made progress, but “known capability gaps” and deficiencies remain in the system, according to a Government Accountability Office report released yesterday. “For example, development of key satellite communication terminals for strategic bomber aircraft has been deferred by several years,” the report summary states. While some NC3 programs await follow-on increments to address gaps, the increments are not yet funded, the report found. GAO did not make any recommendations for DoD in the partly classified report, and while the agency provided a draft of its report to DoD for comment, DoD responded that it has “no formal comments,” the report states.
GAO reviewed the Mission Planning and Analysis System, the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals, Presidential and National Voice Conferencing, the Phoenix Air-to-Ground Communications Network, the Common Very Low Frequency Receiver, the Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal and the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network Program Upgrade. Because of a wide array of programs that directly and indirectly support NC3-related missions, GAO chose efforts that “are among the largest efforts in terms of estimated cost and/or that enable senior leader communications or other critical capabilities,” according to the report.
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