Information on Directed Energy Programs for Fiscal Years 1985 Through 1993
since 1985 sdi has been developing technologies for directed energy weapons-lasers and particle
beams. (On May 13,1993, the Secretary of Defense changed the name of
the Strategic Defense Initiative program and office to Ballistic Missile
Defense.) Prior to 1986, other Department of Defense agencies and
services had been developing the technologies. It was believed they could
be the most effective means of defeating the evolving Soviet
intercontinental ballistic missile threat that included thousands of nuclear
warheads and decoys. The priority of SDIO'S directed energy weapon
research and development programs decreased following the breakup of
the former Soviet Union in 1990 and the 1991 refocusing of the Strategic
Defense Initiative (SDI) by President Bush, In 1992, the Congress directed
that far-term technology programs (such as directed energy) be
transferred from SDIO to the Advanced Research Projects Agency or the
appropriate military department unless national security interests dictated
their retention.
The Chairman, Legislation and National Security Subcommittee, House
Committee on Government Operations, asked GAO to assist the Congress in
evaluating the Department of Defense’s recommendations for transferring
or retaining management responsibility for directed energy technologies in
SD10 and in determining the future direction of directed energy
development. GAO was asked to provide information on the funding of the
directed energy programs to date, the development status of the
technologies, and the additional funding that would be needed for further
development of the technologies.
beams. (On May 13,1993, the Secretary of Defense changed the name of
the Strategic Defense Initiative program and office to Ballistic Missile
Defense.) Prior to 1986, other Department of Defense agencies and
services had been developing the technologies. It was believed they could
be the most effective means of defeating the evolving Soviet
intercontinental ballistic missile threat that included thousands of nuclear
warheads and decoys. The priority of SDIO'S directed energy weapon
research and development programs decreased following the breakup of
the former Soviet Union in 1990 and the 1991 refocusing of the Strategic
Defense Initiative (SDI) by President Bush, In 1992, the Congress directed
that far-term technology programs (such as directed energy) be
transferred from SDIO to the Advanced Research Projects Agency or the
appropriate military department unless national security interests dictated
their retention.
The Chairman, Legislation and National Security Subcommittee, House
Committee on Government Operations, asked GAO to assist the Congress in
evaluating the Department of Defense’s recommendations for transferring
or retaining management responsibility for directed energy technologies in
SD10 and in determining the future direction of directed energy
development. GAO was asked to provide information on the funding of the
directed energy programs to date, the development status of the
technologies, and the additional funding that would be needed for further
development of the technologies.
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