program with its added features of increased interoperability and standardization with our allies, continues to enhance the international cooperation and provides an added incentive to our Allies to contribute more to our mutual defense.

Test and Evaluation Oversight

on

In addition to these initiatives, the Deputy Under Secretary for Test and Evaluation and the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation maintain continuous oversight Service testing of over 150 acquisition programs. Top-level supervision of testing throughout the life-cycle of each major program is provided with the intent of ensuring effective, realistic testing; reducing redundancy in testing and obtaining the maximum use of critical test and evaluation resources. Approval authority is maintained over the Test and Evaluation Master Plans for major systems and tests in process are monitored in order to provide a comprehensive assessment of all test results to support major program decisions. This oversight has resulted in enhanced efficiency in the use of critical test resources, focused increased attention to the correction of critical system deficiencies, and resulted in a sound basis for decision.

WEAPON SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS R&D

to

Research and Development reduce weapon support requirements and improve logistics operations is increasing as a result of the setting aside of FY86 funds to increase activities in these areas. Major efforts now underway include improvement of maintenance diagnostics capabilities, reliability and maintainability improvements, and Computer Aided Logistic Support (CALS). Diagnostic capabilities improvements are being sought through the development of computer-aided design applications and use of expert system technology to improve troubleshooting. The objectives are to develop very accurate diagnostic tools, (such as built-in test), reduce the size of the external test equipment, and reduce maintenance training and skill level requirements. A number of field demonstrations of improved diagnostics capabilities are planned over the next three years for both new systems (B-1B) and fielded systems (Apache and Blackhawk). Substantial improvements will also be achieved in the reliability and maintainability of equipment for use in future weapon systems through technology programs such as the Air Force "R&M 2000" program. Another high priority objective is to improve the usefulness, quality, and timeliness of

The Soviet space program is large, dynamic, and expanding. It now encompasses almost 100 launches per year, with over 140 satellites operational at any one time. Their activities in space indicate that the emphasis in the Soviet program is on military objectives: providing support to their own military forces and developing the ability to deny use of space to enemy military forces. They attach lesser emphasis to the civilian aspects of their program: earth sensing, lunar and planetary exploration, and astronomy. These account for only a fraction of their launches. The size of the Soviet program--which is significantly larger than that of the U.S. and its greater emphasis on military activities is. indicated on Figure VI-1.

75

Number of Launches

75

50

50

U.S. TOTAL

25

0

U.S. MILITARY

1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 Year

Figure VI-1. U.S. and USSR Space Launches, 1957-1985

The Soviets do not advertise the fact that their space systems, both unmanned and manned, have military applications, nor readily admit that they have developed any purely military space systems.

The U.S. maintains nearly the same number of satellites active in orbit as does the Soviet Union. However, by virtue of longer spacecraft operational lifetimes, it is able to do so with significantly fewer launches. Despite the four times greater launch rate, and total annual payload lifted to orbit, the cost of the Soviet space program is estimated to be only about twice that of

capabilities for these new facilities and systems will probably be achieved in the late 1980's to early 1990's. The U.S. Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle) and its launch facilities are comparable developments, now almost fully operational.

The new Soviet heavy lift launch vehicle is estimated to have the capability to lift up to 330,000 pounds to low orbit, far exceeding their prior maximum of 44,000 pounds and in the same class as the discontinued U.S. Saturn. The U.S. Space Transportation System can place 65,000 pounds of payload into low earth orbit.

The Soviets have continued to expand their operational capability in space, as evidenced by their resumption of space station activities, their efforts associated with the development of a new family of launch vehicles, including a shuttle like ours and a small space plane, and increased on-orbit assets. Clearly, their objectives are to expand their warfighting capability utilizing space assets and to integrate the use of these systems with terrestrial forces

Our specific objectives in space are focused on pursuing a vigorous research and development program that will have potential high military payoff, defining methods that address reliability, maintainability, and supportability of

our space assets, and providing an assured access to space through the combination of the space shuttle and unmanned launch vehicles.

With regard to unmanned launch vehicles, we have initiated two programs that will significantly support our requirement for assured access to space. The first is the Complementary Expendable Launch Vehicle (CELV) program which will provide a complement to the shuttle for heavy geosynchronous payloads launched from the east coast. The second is the Titan ICBM refurbishment program. These vehicles will support those small

payloads going to unique polar orbits from Vandenberg that would otherwise be flown on the shuttle in a less efficient manner.

Speaking of Vandenberg, we have recently activated the shuttle launch facility and are preparing for the first mission. This will be a dedicated DoD mission flying the Teal Ruby and CIRRIS spacecraft. Because of the high media interest in this first Vandenberg flight, we have unclassified the mission. This flight will be the third dedicated DoD shuttle mission. The two previous missions from Kennedy were highly successful and demonstrated that we had corrected the anomaly problem with the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).

The recent catastrophic loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger may result in possible setbacks to some of our national security space programs including slipping the first Vandenberg launch. Until we know for sure the cause of the accident and the resulting time to correct the problem, the actual impacts cannot be totally ascertained. Nevertheless, the Secretary of Defense has directed an assessment to address the impacts to current and planned programs and the capabilities and options available to launch those space systems vital to our national interests. The results of this assessment will be used to determine if any programmatic and/or policy decisions are warranted.

One specific program that we are investigating very closely deals with the work that DARPA has performed on hypersonic technology. This work appears to have significant potential for reducing space transportation costs. Additionally, the many spin-off applications of this technology will aid in maintaining U.S. leadership in aeronautics and the commercial use of space.

Space related research and technology continues to be an important part of our overall research and development effort. We have recently initiated a study, together with NASA,

to define the next generation space transportation system. What is unique about this effort is that we are looking at the whole picture of space transportation, not just the launch vehicles, but the ground and on-orbit operations as well. Our objective is to develop a plan that will provide an investment and technology development strategy to support future national security, civil, and commercial space transportation needs beyond 1995. INTERNATIONAL ARMAMENTS COOPERATION

Goals

The basic goal of our international armaments cooperation program is to develop, field and support--through equitable burden-sharing--the most effective and interoperable conventional military equipment for both U.S. and friendly nations forces. This requires collaborative programs based on the principle of equity--sharing both risks and benefits.

Specific Objectives

A credible collective non-nuclear forces capability within NATO will require substantial investment by the U.S. and Allied governments. Armaments cooperation is a key incentive to economically achieve these