United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-08-02 monographic deposited born digital 64 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-1029R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R P0b002ee18039ee83 f:d071029r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R GAO-07-1029R Aerospace research Communication satellites Communication systems Defense procurement Planning programming budgeting Procurement planning Program evaluation Radar equipment Research programs Strategic planning Technology Research and development Cost estimates DOD Space Radar Program DOD Transformational Satellite Communications System Program Correspondence A73852 The Department of Defense (DOD) is working to achieve information superiority over adversaries and share information seamlessly among disparate weapons systems. Two programs envisioned as a part of this effort are Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) and Space Radar. TSAT is designed to provide rapid worldwide secure communications with air and space systems--including Space Radar--through radio frequency and laser communications links. Space Radar is expected to provide global all-weather intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, particularly in denied areas, for military, national intelligence, and civil users. Both TSAT and Space Radar will require major software development efforts and employ a significant number of experienced staff. TSAT and Space Radar development efforts are expected to be among the most costly space systems ever developed by DOD. In 2004, TSAT was estimated to have a total life cycle cost of about $16 billion, of which $2.0 billion will have been spent at the end of fiscal year 2007. Space Radar is estimated to have a total life cycle cost from $20 billion to $25 billion, and the program has spent about approximately $464.5 million. TSAT expects to begin product development in fiscal year 2008, and launch the first satellite in the first quarter of fiscal year 2016. Space Radar expects to begin product development in fiscal year 2009 and launch the first satellite in third quarter of fiscal year 2016. The systems are also expected to be among the most complex ever developed, largely because of the challenges associated with integrating critical technologies within the satellites and networking the satellites to other platforms. Congress requested that GAO assess DOD's progress in adopting best practice as both of these programs proceed toward product development. We presented our findings on TSAT and Space Radar in briefings to Congressional staffs in March 2007. This letter summarizes our findings, conclusions, and recommendations. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R.pdf GAO-07-1029R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1029R Correspondence GAO-07-1029R; DOD is Making Progress in Adopting Best Practices for the Transformational Satellite Communications System and Space Radar but Still Faces Challenges; Aerospace research Communication satellites Communication systems Defense procurement Planning programming budgeting Procurement planning Program evaluation Radar equipment Research programs Strategic planning Technology Research and development Cost estimates DOD Space Radar Program DOD Transformational Satellite Communications System Program