Summary: Although the Navy has made some progress in improving surface ship self-defense capabilities, most ships continue to have only limited capabilities against cruise missile threats. A 1998 Navy assessment of surface ship self-defense capabilities concluded that only the 12 Whidbey Island and Harpers Ferry class amphibious ships have or will be equipped with defensive systems that can provide measurable improvement against near-and mid-term cruise missile threats. The assessment projected that none of the Navy's planned future improvements would provide any ship class a high level of self-defense capability against far-term threats. In projecting ship self-defense capability improvement, the assessment assumed that all planned improvements would be developed and fielded as scheduled. GAO believes the Navy assessment overstates actual and projected capabilities of surface ships to protect themselves from cruise missiles because the models used to determine capabilities include optimistic assumptions that may not reflect the reality of normal fleet operations. Among these assumptions are perfect weather, uninterrupted equipment availability, and perfect crew and equipment performance at all times. Furthermore, inadequate funding, maintenance, and repair parts support continue to limit the availability of existing self-defense equipment. Plans for meeting ship self-defense requirements are not promising because the Navy still lacks a comprehensive and consistent strategy to improve its capabilities. Earlier plans have not included all affected ship classes, have not always established priorities among ship classes, have not consistently used a baseline from which to measure progress, and have not provided timelines for achieving the desired improvements. Although Navy leaders express concern about the vulnerability of surface ships, that concern may not be reflected in the budget for ship self-defense programs. From fiscal years 1997 to 2005, spending is relatively flat and associated research and development funding is projected to decline from about $517 million to about $218 million. GAO recommends that the Navy develop a comprehensive strategy that articulates priorities, establishes baselines, provides timelines, and defines resource requirements for achieving needed ship self-defense improvements.
