Missile Development: TSSAM Production Should Not Be Started as Planned
(Letter Report, 10/08/93, GAO/NSIAD-94-52).

Under development for 7 years at a cost of nearly $15 billion, the
Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile (TSSAM) program is developing a low
observable, medium-range cruise missile for the Air Force, Army, and
Navy.  The program has been plagued by development problems, cost
growth, and schedule delays.  GAO concludes that the TSSAM system has
yet to prove its ability to work under operational conditions.  Major
critical subsystems continue to be beset by technical problems, which
have delayed the flight test program.  Development problems, testing
delays, and reduced quantities of missiles planned for production have
boosted the unit cost of the TSSAM system even though cost-reduction
measures have trimmed the size of the development program.  The Air
Force requested nearly $196 million in fiscal year 1994 to fund the
combined effects bomblets variant but has no plans to finish testing the
missiles before starting production.  GAO recommends that TSSAM
production be stopped until all critical pieces of the bomblet variant
have been developed and adequately tested, including both the hardware
and software.  GAO also recommends that the performance of the TSSAM be
tested under realistic conditions and include all the required software
needed to operate the missile.

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

 REPORTNUM:  NSIAD-94-52
     TITLE:  Missile Development: TSSAM Production Should Not Be Started 
             as Planned
      DATE:  10/08/93
   SUBJECT:  Testing
             Air Force procurement
             Missiles
             Product performance evaluation
             Production engineering
             Advanced weapons systems
             Ballistic missiles
             Military cost control
             Computer software
             Cost overruns
IDENTIFIER:  Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile
             
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