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B-163058 1 (1973-05-07)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaaeiq0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 7-0c;P - This is an unclassified digest furnished in lieu of a report containing classified security information. COVPTROLLER GENERAL IS REPORT TO THE CONGRESS ARMY AIR DEFENSE: SAM-D PROGRAM Department of Defense B-163058 DIGEST WHY THE REVIEW WAS MADE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS GAO made this review early in 1972 to assist the Congress in determin- ing whe-arthe.P.grop~qs ed SAM.-D (surface-to-air missile dev.elopent) system,--now-in the ngin ~ijg developmen&tstage, will fulfill,, at k1_acep~tabjlecps.t, an es~njta! air d efens e, n ped Lojz6'__h6,i~ited States. Subsequently, the Chairman, Research and Development Subcommittee, Senate Armed Services Committee, asked GAO for specific information on the SAM-D program before the hearings to be held in the spring of 1973. (See app. II.) The Army is fielding a new system, the Improved HAWK (homing all-the- way killer), and is developing a new one, the SAM-D, which will re- quire greater resources. SAM-D will replace the Improved HAWK and the Nike Hercules systems. Background The Army is using advanced technology in the SAM-D system for use starting in 1980; the system will be capable of operating in a severe electronic countermeasure environment and against massive attacks. The Depart- ment of Defense (DOD) justifies the SAM-D on the basis that it will be more cost effective than other sys- tems, including fielding the Improved HAWK system in greater numbers. ~mV Need There are differences of opinion among officials in DOD about the extent of the enemy threat to be countered by air defense systems, including the SAM-D system. The Defense Intelligence Agency estimates a lesser enemy threat to be countered by the SAM-D system than the threat estimated by the Army. (See p. 33.) Operations 1. A single Improved HAWK radar can scan a greater area than a single SAM-D radar. (See p. 25.) The Army is studying ways to increase the SAM-D radar coverage and ways to increase radar survivability against enemy antiradiation mis- siles. (See p. 38.) 2. Reloading times are significantly longer for the SAM-D system than for the Improved HAWK. However, an Improved HAWK battery is easier to overwhelm than a single SAM-D fire section, since the Improved HAWK can engage fewer targets concurrently than the SAM-D system. (See p. 26.) 3. The SAM-D system can track a significantly greater number of targets than can the Improved HAWK. (See p. 26.) MAY 7. 1973 0113RO F / I/i LM09132O