United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1993-09-30 monographic deposited born digital 12 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-93-221 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221 P0b002ee180397056 f:ns93221 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221 NSIAD-93-221 Defense capabilities Defense budgets Air Force procurement Air defense systems Air warfare Defense contingency planning Warning systems Tactical air forces Fighter aircraft Advanced weapons systems Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses System F-4G Aircraft F-15 Aircraft F-16 Aircraft F-22 Aircraft B-2 Aircraft EF-111 Aircraft EA-6B Aircraft High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile F-117 Aircraft APR-47 Radar Warning Receiver Advanced Tactical Fighter Aircraft F-15E Aircraft Letter Report NSIAD The Air Force's Supression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) system is designed to take out enemy air communications, radar, and other systems that are directing surface-to-air missiles and antiair artillery. By the turn of the century, the Air Force plans to retire the aging F-4G "Wild Weasel" SEAD aircraft and eliminate dedicated SEAD units. Pentagon officials acknowledged in 1992 that this plan entails some risk because of the time gap between the retirement of the F-4G and the fielding of enough new SEAD systems to counter decreases in the capabilities of the new systems. The Air Force decided this year to field even fewer SEAD-equipped aircraft with potentially even less capability, further increasing the risk. Yet the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Air Force have identified significant threats that indicate a continuing need for SEAD. Air Force officials say that potential budget cuts and force reductions are driving the decision to eliminate single mission units, such as the F-4G force, because they compete for dollars with the Air Force's high priority F-22 and B-2 programs. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221.pdf GAO/NSIAD-93-221 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-93-221 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-93-221; Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses: Air Force Plans; Defense capabilities Defense budgets Air Force procurement Air defense systems Air warfare Defense contingency planning Warning systems Tactical air forces Fighter aircraft Advanced weapons systems Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses System F-4G Aircraft F-15 Aircraft F-16 Aircraft F-22 Aircraft B-2 Aircraft EF-111 Aircraft EA-6B Aircraft High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile F-117 Aircraft APR-47 Radar Warning Receiver Advanced Tactical Fighter Aircraft F-15E Aircraft