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 1997-10-16 monographic deposited born digital 25 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-98-15 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15 P0b002ee18039528e f:ns98015 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15 NSIAD-98-15 Army procurement Military training Computer software verification and validation Military systems analysis Management information systems Military communication Defense capabilities Computers Army Maneuver Control System Army Command and Control System Common Hardware and Software Program Army Battlefield Command System Army Tactical Command and Control System ATCCS Letter Report NSIAD

GAO reviewed the Army's developmental and acquisition plans for the Maneuver Control System (MCS), focusing on whether: (1) the current MCS software development strategy is appropriate to overcome prior development problems; and (2) 207 new computers for MCS-related training should be procured as planned.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) since its 1993 reorganization, the MCS has continued to experience development problems; (2) the initial operational test and evaluation of version 12.01 software has slipped 28 months, from November 1995 to March 1998, and interim tests have shown that significant software problems continue; (3) despite these problems, the Army awarded a contract in September 1996 for the concurrent development of the next software versions--12.1, 12.2, and 12.3--which are being developed by a new contractor and may involve substantially different software; (4) if the Army's current development strategy for the MCS is not strengthened, development problems may continue to occur; (5) currently, the army's strategy allows: (a) less than full operational testing of version 12.1; and (b) development of follow-on versions 12.2 and 12.3 to start about 18 months before the operational testing of each version's predecessor; (6) despite the fact that the MCS has yet to undergo an initial operational test and evaluation or be approved for production, the Army plans to acquire 207 computers in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 to increase the number of computers available for system training; (7) program officials stated that they need to acquire the computers before operational testing to provide not only MCS specific training but also training for the larger Army Battle Command System, of which the Army Tactical Command and Control System and the MCS are major components; and (8) the 207 computers, however, are not needed to satisfy any of the three legislated reasons for low-rate initial production before an initial operational test and evaluation. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15.pdf GAO/NSIAD-98-15 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-15 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-98-15; Battlefield Automation: Software Problems Hinder Development of the Army's Maneuver Control System; Army procurement Military training Computer software verification and validation Military systems analysis Management information systems Military communication Defense capabilities Computers Army Maneuver Control System Army Command and Control System Common Hardware and Software Program Army Battlefield Command System Army Tactical Command and Control System ATCCS Title 10 Section 2399 Title 10 Section 2400 10 U.S.C. 2399 10 U.S.C. 2400 Title 31 Section 720 31 U.S.C. 720