The Government Accountability Office has found problems with the Department of Defense's nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) modernization programs. NC3 is a complex system, made up of various land, air and space components, all intended to insure the president stays connected to nuclear forces in an emergency.
The programs, which GAO has reviewed before, have made some progress toward developing and fielding systems, and meeting previously set goals, they still have some distance to go.
Resource: Read the report
The systems that GAO examined include the:
- Mission Planning and Analysis System;
- Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals;
- Presidential and National Voice Conferencing;
- Phoenix Air-to-Ground Communications Network;
- Common Very Low Frequency Receiver;
- Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal;
- Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network Program Upgrade.
Among the problems GAO cited:
- Development of key satellite communication terminals for strategic bomber aircraft has been deferred by several years;
- Some programs have follow-on increments planned to to address known gaps, but they are not yet funded.
GAO made no specific recommendations in the report.
