Summary: Since 1974 the Department of Defense (DOD) has attempted to assess and strengthen the survivability of Theater Nuclear Forces in western Europe. To achieve greater flexibility in using Theater Nuclear Forces, DOD modernization efforts were directed towards improving survivability under nuclear or nonnuclear attack through greater mobility; upgrading command, control, and communications systems; improving the accuracy and timeliness of operational intelligence and target information; and modernizing aging armaments with new systems.
It was concluded that the Theater Nuclear Forces Modernization Program could have benefited by more centralized management and coordination by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In August 1978 a Theater Nuclear Forces Acquisition Planning Coordinating Group was established to manage and coordinate all efforts related to Theater Nuclear Forces. It is hoped that this coordinating group will centralize and strengthen the management of improvements in the Theater Nuclear Forces by providing forceful guidance, establishing priorities, and continually evaluating and reviewing ongoing programs in order to achieve modernization goals in a timely manner.
