Defense Acquisitions Status Of Ballistic Missile Defense Program In 2004 Report To Congressional Committees

By law, GAO annually assesses the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) progress in developing and fielding a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Funded at $8 billion to nearly $10 billion per year, it is the largest research and development program in the Department of Defense (DOD). The program has been managed in 2-year increments, known as blocks. Block 2006, the second BMDS block, was completed in December 2007. GAO assessed MDA's progress in (1) meeting Block 2006 goals for fielding assets, completing work within estimated cost, conducting tests, and demonstrating the performance of the overall system in the field, and (2) making managerial improvements to transparency, accountability, and oversight. In conducting the assessment, GAO reviewed the assets fielded; contractor cost, schedule, and performance; and tests completed during 2007. GAO also reviewed pertinent sections of the U.S. Code, acquisition policy, and the charter of a new missile defense board.

Assesses the annual progress the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) made in developing and fielding the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Also assessed MDA's progress toward improving accountability and transparency in agency operations, mgmt. processes, and its acquisition strategy. To accomplish this, the auditor reviewed asset fielding schedules, test plans and reports, as well as pertinent sections of DoD policy to compare MDA's current level of accountability with that of other DoD programs. The FY 2009 assessment of MDA's cost, schedule, and performance progress is more limited than previous assessments because MDA removed key components of schedule and performance goals from its annual report of goals.