>>> From "Leaked Document: Navy Sending Pilots 'Into Harm's Way' With Weapons That Don't Work?" by the Project on Government Oversight, 24 Sept 2002:

"The Pentagon's chief independent tester says he fears the Navy is deploying for battle an "increasing number" of combat systems that have not been adequately tested, according to a memo sent last month to the Secretary of the Navy.

"I am concerned about an apparent trend by the Navy to deploy an increasing number of combat systems into harm's way that have not demonstrated acceptable performance," wrote Thomas Christie, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation for the Department of Defense. "I strongly recommend that you adopt a policy of deploying new combat systems after they have demonstrated appropriate performance during adequate operational test and evaluation."..."

[for more details, read the full article from POGO]
[read a Washington Post article on the memo]

[download the full memo in Acrobat format]
[see below for full memo in HTML format]

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
1700 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1700

<stamped>Aug 1 2002

MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

SUBJECT: Deployment of Navy Systems Without Adequate Operational Test

I am concerned about an apparent trend by the Navy to deploy an increasing number of
combat systems into harm's way that have not demonstrated acceptable perfomance during
adequate operational test and evaluation. These include the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW); three F/A-18E/F systems - a classified system, the advanced targeting and designating forward looking infrared system (ATFLIR), and plans for the shared reconnaissance pod (SHARP); and the BQQ-10 submarine sonar system, the acoustic rapid COTS insertion (ARCI).

• JSOW-A deployed aboard USS STENNIS (CVN- 74) prior to demonstrating acceptable performance in operational test.
• The classified system was decertified from operational test and evaluation in February
due to unsatisfactory performance. Several days ago, I became aware of a proposal to
deploy the system following a "quick reaction assessment" of vastly reduced scope from
the COMOPTEVFOR and DOT &E approved test plan.
• ATFLIR performance during the April operational assessment was not satisfactory. For
example, only 2 out of 7 laser guided bombs demonstrated acceptable performance and
fleet reliability is unsatisfactory.
• There is a proposal to accelerale the deployment of SHARP following a "quick reaction
assessment" in lieu of an adequate operational test and evaluation.
• ARCI has deployed on submarines prior to demonstrating acceptable reliability during
operational test.

I strongly recommend that you adopt a policy of deploying new combat systems after
they have demonstrated appropriate performance during adequate operational test and
evaluation.

<signature>
Thomas P. Christie
Director

cc:
ASN (RD&A)
N091

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