GAO: DOD Needs Plan to Implement Wide-band Satellite Communications Strategy

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

The Department of Defense (DOD) needs to create a comprehensive plan for developing a hybrid military-commercial system that will handle wide-band communications, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The 2017 defense authorization act required that GAO review DOD’s ongoing assessment of alternatives (AOA) for future wide-band services. GAO found the department conducted a comprehensive assessment in line with best practices that included input from all stakeholders.

“DOD’s analysis concluded that integrating military and commercial systems into a hybrid architecture would be more cost effective and capable than either acquisition approach alone,” the report stated. “However, DOD also found that it needs more information to select its next satellite communications architecture and made recommendations for further study. “

[Download full report: Satellite Communications: DOD Should Develop a Plan for Implementing Its Recommendations on a Future Wideband Architecture]

DOD found it needed more information on replacing user terminals with ones that would work with new systems. It also lacked detailed technical information on commercial systems’ cyber protections.

GAO said DOD lacks a formal plan to guide and coordinate the implementation of its new wide-band plan.

“Without such a plan, DOD is at increased risk of not having the information it needs to make timely, knowledge-based decisions on future systems to provide critical communications for military operations,” the government watchdog said.

The GAO report does not indicate any objections to developing a plan.

A summary of the GAO report follows.

Satellite Communications:
DOD Should Develop a Plan for Implementing Its Recommendations on a Future Wideband Architecture

Government Accountability Office
GAO Report 20-80
December 2019
Full Report

Why GAO Did This Study

DOD officials estimate spending an average of $4 billion each year to acquire and sustain wideband satellite communications that provide fast and reliable voice, video, and data transmissions critical to military operations. DOD is considering how to meet its future wideband needs across many different operating environments and scenarios.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 required DOD to conduct a Wideband Communications Services AOA to identify ways to replace current systems as the satellites reach the end of their service lives. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 contained a provision for GAO to assess DOD’s analysis. This report addresses (1) whether the Wideband AOA was comprehensive, (2) how DOD solicited input from stakeholders, and (3) the conclusions DOD reached through the Wideband AOA.

GAO reviewed the Wideband AOA along with DOD policies, documentation, and analyses; interviewed DOD officials and commercial stakeholders; and assessed the AOA against best practices for a comprehensive AOA process.

What GAO Found

The Department of Defense (DOD) conducted a comprehensive analysis of alternatives (AOA) process for wideband satellite communications, as determined through an assessment of the AOA against relevant GAO best practices. A comprehensive analysis of alternatives process indicates that the analysis team thoroughly addressed a wide range of possible satellite system alternatives.

DOD used multiple methods to obtain stakeholder input, in accordance with its Wideband AOA study plan. For example, the study team incorporated input from across the military services and operational users, among others. Moreover, the Air Force and Defense Information Systems Agency conducted interrelated studies to provide additional information to the Wideband study team.

DOD’s analysis concluded that integrating military and commercial systems into a hybrid architecture would be more cost effective and capable than either acquisition approach alone. However, DOD also found that it needs more information to select its next satellite communications architecture and made recommendations for further study. Examples of these recommendations include:

• Develop an enterprise satellite communications terminal strategy – DOD found the magnitude of replacing user terminals to work with new systems was challenging and that more information on emerging technology and possible changes to terminal acquisition approaches would help DOD address this challenge.

• Invest in commercial technologies – DOD found that it lacked detailed technical information on commercial systems’ cyber protections and that additional information on such protections would help DOD determine the extent to which they would meet DOD’s needs.

Such recommendations align with GAO’s acquisition best practices for knowledge-based decision-making and have the potential to improve the department’s satellite communications acquisitions. However, DOD stakeholders said there is no formal plan to guide and coordinate implementation of the AOA recommendations. Without such a plan, DOD is at increased risk of not having the information it needs to make timely, knowledge-based decisions on future systems to provide critical communications for military operations.

What GAO Recommends

GAO is recommending that DOD develop a plan to guide implementation of the Wideband AOA recommendations. DOD provided technical comments on a draft of this report, which GAO incorporated as appropriate.