	Background

The Stryker family of vehicles consists of 10 eight-wheeled armored  vehicles mounted on a common chassis that provide transport for troops,  weapons, and command and control. The Army’s original operational requirements for Stryker vehicles  included (1) the capability of entering, being transportable in, and exiting a  C-130 aircraft; (2) the vehicle’s combat capable deployment weight must  not exceed 38,000 pounds to allow C-130 transport of 1,000 miles; and (3)  the Stryker vehicles must be capable of immediate combat operations  after unloading. The Army  has similar operational requirements for its Future Combat Systems’  vehicles. The Army plans to form four more Stryker brigades from 2005  through 2008. Acquisition of Stryker Production Vehicles Is about Two-thirds Complete, Though Overall Program Costs Have Increased, and Operational Cost Estimates Are Not Yet Reliable

Acquisition of the eight Stryker production vehicle configurations is about  two-thirds complete with about 68 percent of the over 1,800-planned  production vehicles ordered, and a low rate of production for the two  developmental Strykers is scheduled for September 2004. However, the  Army does not yet have reliable estimates for the Stryker’s operating costs,  such as for vehicle maintenance, because of limited peacetime operational  experience with the vehicles. Stryker Vehicle Program’s Costs Have Increased from Earlier Estimates

The Stryker vehicle program’s total costs increased, in then-year dollars,  from the original November 2000 estimate of $7.1 billion to the December  2003 estimate of $8.7 billion—or about 22 percent. Mobile Gun System Development and Testing Schedule Ongoing but Delayed

Although developmental testing is ongoing, the development and testing  schedule of the Mobile Gun System has been delayed, resulting in more  than a 1-year delay in meeting planned production decision milestone  dates, with initial limited production to start in September 2004. The delay was primarily due to additional time needed to develop  and test the vehicle’s nuclear, biological, and chemical sensor systems. 6). Regardless, with the added weight of the armor even in ideal flight  conditions, the aircraft would be too heavy to take off. These same weight concerns would also apply to the Army’s Future  Combat Systems vehicles, which according to the Army’s operational  requirements should be no larger than 38,000 pounds and be transportable  by a C-130. Once reconfigured, units of the  Stryker brigade also demonstrated the ability to conduct immediate  combat operations. During our review, Army officials acknowledged the significant challenges  and limitations of meeting expectations for transporting Stryker vehicles— and beyond 2010, the Future Combat Systems—on C-130 aircraft in terms  of limited flight range, the size force that could be deployed, and the  challenges of arriving ready for combat. Provide to Congress information that    clarifies the expected C-130 tactical intratheater deployment  capabilities of Stryker brigades and Stryker vehicles and describes  probable operational missions and scenarios using C-130 transport  of Stryker vehicles that are achievable, including the size of a  combat capable C-130 deployable Stryker force;    describes operational capability limitations of Stryker brigades  given the limits of C-130 transport; and  identifies options for, and the feasibility of, alternative modes of  transportation—such as C-17 aircraft— for transporting Stryker  brigades within an operational theater. Military Transformation: Army Actions Needed to Enhance Formation  of Future Interim Brigade Combat Teams.
Why GAO Did This Study

In its transformation to a more responsive and mobile force, the Army plans to form 6 Stryker Brigade Combat teams equipped with a new family of armored vehicles known as Strykers. The Stryker--which provides transport for troops, weapons, and command and control--was required by the Army to weigh no more than 38,000 pounds and be transportable in theater by C-130 cargo aircraft arriving ready for immediate combat operations. The Army plans to equip its future force with a new generation of vehicles--Future Combat Systems--to also be transportable by C-130s. GAO was asked to assess (1) the current status of Stryker vehicle acquisition, including the most current Stryker vehicle program and operating cost estimates; (2) the status and results of Stryker vehicle tests; and (3) the ability of C-130 aircraft to transport Stryker vehicles within a theater of operations. This report also addresses the transportability of the Army's Future Combat Systems on C-130 aircraft.

What GAO Found

The acquisition of the Stryker vehicles is about two-thirds complete; with about 1,200 of 8 production vehicle configurations ordered and 800 delivered to units. In addition, limited quantities of two developmental vehicles--the Mobile Gun System and the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance vehicle prototypes--have also been ordered for testing. Stryker program costs have increased about 22 percent from the November 2000 estimate of $7.1 billion to the December 2003 estimate of $8.7 billion. Total program costs include acquisition costs--procurement, research, development, and test and evaluation--as well as military construction costs related to Strykers. The Army does not yet have reliable estimates of the Stryker's operating costs because of limited peacetime use to develop data. As of June 2004, testing of the eight production Strykers was mostly complete, with the vehicles meeting Army operational requirements with limitations. However, development and testing schedules of the two developmental Strykers have been delayed, resulting in an over 1-year delay in meeting the vehicles' production milestones and fielding dates. While the Army has demonstrated the required transportability of Strykers by C-130 aircraft in training exercises, in an operational environment, the Stryker's average weight of 38,000 pounds--along with other factors such as added equipment weight and less than ideal flight conditions--significantly limits the C-130's flight range and reduces the size force that could be deployed. These factors also limit the ability of Strykers to conduct combat operations immediately upon arrival as required. With the similar maximum weight envisioned for Future Combat System vehicles intended for the Army's future force, the planned C-130 transport of those vehicles would present similar challenges.