US lawyers question Army plans

US lawmakers have raised doubts on the future of the US Army's Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

The Army has requested about $100 million to acquire an additional 153 ATACMS missiles in fiscal year 1998, but the House National Security Committee (HNSC) says that the service is to hold off from a multi-year procurement scheme because of "-deficiencies in operational testing performed on the missile prior to its entering full-rate production".

The HNSC voted to reduce ATACMS spending, as did the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), which "-questions whether doubts expressed by the US Army with respect to the ability of the ATACMS missile to destroy specific target sets will potentially lead to a future decrease in missile procurement".

The SASC says that the US Army must resolve any outstanding issues by 1 December.

Despite ATACMS shortcomings, the SASC recommends $20 million for the US Navy to develop a naval variant.

Source: Flight International