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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaawgz0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DOCUM9ENT BESUE
04250 - [B3554811] (l)
(Rationale Justifying the Stated Mission Needs for Cruise
Missile]. PSAD-78-4L; B-163058. December 16, 1977. 3 pp.
P=port to Sen. William Proxmire, Chairman, Department of
D:fense; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Federal Procure-ment of Goods and Services (1900) ;
L,'deral Procurement of Goods and Services- Notifying the
Congress of Status of Important Procurement Programs (1935).
Contact: PLocurement and Systems Acquisition Div.
Budget 'Function: National Defense (050); National Defense:
Weapon Systems (057).
C!)ngressional Relevance: Joint Economic Committee: Priorities
and Economy in Government Subccmmittee.
In an April ^977 report to C:%ngress, GAO recommended
that the Secretary of Defense reevaluate the role of cruise
missiles to assure that developments are directed toward
specific military requirements that relate to mission needs. It
is uncertain whether the Department of Defense has developed
mission needs data or whethe: they will develop this type of
information for each variant of cruise missle as their plans and
studies proceed. Findings/conclusions: At this time, with the
possible exception of the air launched version, GAO has not had
access to data supporting the need for other land attack
versions of the cruise missile. Some of the factors that make it
difficult to identify specific mission needs include: the broad
issues of strategic force planning, NATO requirements and policy
considerations related to theater nuclear weapons, and SALT
implications. Other complicating factors deal with the
versatility of the cruise missile, its relatively low cost, and
predictions of hiqh accuracy, reliability, and survivability.
The mission need for each variant should be identified. New
developments to meet a mission need should proceed in a logical
sequence from -,he identification and issessment of a projected
threat, through identification of existing capabilit.es to
accomplish the mission, assessment of the need in terms o4 a
deficiency in existing capability, to development of a plan to
explore alternative solutions. Valid mission needs may resul,
from technological opportunities or opportunities to reduce
operating costs. The mission need to be met by the Sea Launched
Cruise Missile should be clarified. (Author/SW)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawgz0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)