The Army’s Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures system will include an advanced-threat radar-warning receiver and an advanced- threat radar jammer. Laboratory tests indicate that the software continues to have difficulty in properly detecting, identifying, tracking, and defeating threat-radar systems in complex environments where many radars are operating simultaneously. Conclusion

The Army has identified software and hardware modifications needed for its new radar countermeasures system. The Army expects that future tests will enable it to determine whether the modified software performs as required before the planned low-rate initial production decision in early 2002. However, the testing of the modified hardware is not scheduled for completion until September 2002. By deferring the low-rate initial production decision, the Army would reduce the risk of incurring unanticipated costs to retrofit articles if the system does not perform as required.
What GAO Found

The Army is acquiring a new, state-of-the-art radar countermeasures system--called the Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures to help helicopters and other aircraft identify, track, and defeat radar-guided missiles in complex electronic environments where many radar systems could be operating simultaneously. The Army has identified software and hardware modification needed for its new radar countermeasures system. The Army expects that future tests will enable it to determine whether the modified software performs as required before the planned low-rate initial production decision in early 2002. However, the testing of the modified hardware is not scheduled for completion until September 2002. By deferring low-rate initial production decision, the Army would reduce the risk of incurring anticipated costs to retrofit articles if the system does not work as expected.