Minimizing Friendly Fire: The Army Should Consider Long-Term Solution in
Its Procurement Decision on Near-Term Needs (Letter Report, 10/22/93,
GAO/NSIAD-94-19).

The Army is trying to develop a combat identification system to minimize
ground-to-ground and air-to-ground friendly fire, or "fratricide,"
incidents.  It plans to spend up to $100 million on a near-term
identification system that might be eventually discarded if it cannot be
integrated into a long-term solution.  The Army now plans to start
producing a near-term system about 15 months before it decides what the
cost-effective, long-term solution might be. The Army plans to buy about
1,500 near-term systems to equip front line forces, including ground
vehicles and helicopters.  This number would not be enough for a
larger-scale operation, however, leaving forces still vulnerable to
fratricide.  Moreover, since the near-term system will not be used on
fixed-wing aircraft, this system will not provide adequate coverage in
conflicts involving close air support.  Other combat identification and
situational awareness systems developed in recent years have upgraded
the military's capability in this area and could serve as interim
improvements until the Pentagon and the Army are sure that the near-term
system can be integrated into the long-term solution.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  NSIAD-94-19
     TITLE:  Minimizing Friendly Fire: The Army Should Consider 
             Long-Term Solution in Its Procurement Decision on Near-Term
             Needs
      DATE:  10/22/93
   SUBJECT:  Combat readiness
             Defense contingency planning
             Advanced weapons systems
             Warning systems
             Military land vehicles
             Military aircraft
             Military cost control
             Air warfare
             Ground warfare
             Accident prevention
IDENTIFIER:  Army Battlefield Combat Identification System
             Desert Storm
             Abrams Tank
             M1A1 Tank
             Bradley Fighting Vehicle
             High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
             Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
             Tactical Wheeled Vehicle
             M2A2 Vehicle
             M3A2 Vehicle
             Army Thermal Identification System
             Small Lightweight Global Positioning System Receiver
             Precise Lightweight Global Positioning System Receiver
             HMMWV
             GPS
             
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