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MASAD-81-44 1 (1981-09-15)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabckg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON D.C. WS B-204656 SEPTEMBER 15, 1981 The Honorable Joseph P. Addabbo Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives 116378 Dear Mr. Chairman: Subject: Evaluation of the Army's Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (MASAD-81-44) Your December 12, 1980, letter asked us to evaluate (1) the progress of the Army's Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Sys- tem (AFATDS) program and (2) the Army's plan for adopting components of the Marine Integrated Fire and Air Support System (MIFASS) for use in the AFATDS program. You were concerned whether the Army would make the proper choice for the AFATDS approach in terms of total cost, operational suitability, and timeliness. Also, you wanted assurance that the Army's development and acquisition pro- cedures allowed for maximum competition. The specific objectives of our evaluation were to (1) identify and assess the Army's decision to acquire AFATDS, (2) assess the extent of competition planned for the AFATDS program, and (3) analyze the MIFASS architecture and identify those components and features that could be candidates for incorporation into AFATDS. Information on the scope, methodology, and limitations of our evaluation is in the enclosure. I Our evaluation showed: --The Army has decided to modularly improve the existing Tac- tical Fire Direction System (TACFIRE) to provide for a fu- ture field artillery command and control system. Although this approach, in our opinion, is the proper choice in terms of operational suitability and timeliness, the Army needs to establish a sound basis to assure that the most cost-effective system is being acquired to meet user needs. --The Army's plans provide for ample equipment competition. Software, however, will be developed in-house. --MIFASS was rejected as a follow-on system candidate, but a reconfigured MIFASS architecture or components may be usable in AFATDS. (954002)