Test Resources: Early Testing of Major ASW (Antisubmarine Warfare) Weapons Can Be Enhanced by Increased Focus on Test Resources

摘要

The Navy's antisubmarine warfare (ASW) mission starts with the initial detection of Soviet submarines by air, surface and underwater sonar systems, and ends with their destruction by weapon systems. To accomplish this mission, the Navy currently spends over $10 billion a year to develop and acquire these weapon systems. ASW weapon systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated to counter Soviet submarine improvements and to operate in harsh ocean environments. GAO initiated this review to determine: whether three significant test resources used during the Development, Test and Evaluation (DT&E) phase of testing adequately represent Soviet submarine capabilities and the ocean environment in which they operate and whether the process for identifying and acquiring test resources during the DT&E phase is effective.