	Background

		Patriot Weapon System and Equipment

The Patriot weapon system is a mobile Army surface-to-air missile  system designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles; cruise missiles; and  other threats such as airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial  vehicles. The Army Often Returns Reset Equipment to Patriot Units Late, Which Affects Training

From fiscal years 2014 through 2017, the Army often did not return reset  equipment to units in accordance with the timelines established in the  Army’s keystone regulation governing its process to build ready forces. From  fiscal years 2014 through 2017, the Army reset seven battalions and for  six of these battalions the Army did not return all of the units’ equipment  within 180 days. The Army Has Identified Factors Affecting Maintenance Timeliness

The Army has identified several factors affecting the timeliness of Patriot  maintenance as shown in table 2. Supply chain challenges. Although aware of the challenges of returning equipment to units in a  timely manner, the Army has not comprehensively analyzed the relative  importance of the various factors identified above that affect Patriot  maintenance timeliness. Such an understanding would better inform corrective  actions than isolated efforts and would position the Army to determine  where best to target its efforts in order to ensure units receive equipment  back in a timely manner to conduct training. The Army Plans to Recapitalize Patriot Equipment Every 15 Years, but This Approach Introduces Some Challenges

The Army has decided to recapitalize each battalion set of Patriot  equipment once every 15 years, while recognizing that this approach  introduces some challenges to upgrading and supporting the system’s  readiness to meet its assigned missions through 2048. Officials told us that one way the Army  could increase the pace of recapitalization would be to reduce the  amount of equipment available for ongoing commitments, but that this  is not feasible given the current high pace of operations. Army officials said that the Army could buy extra  equipment to provide to additional units turning in their equipment for  recapitalization if the Army wanted to accelerate the recapitalization  pace. This  replacement radar is expected to address capability needs related to  radar reliability and range to better defend against advanced threats. Specifically,  Army documentation shows, and Army officials told us, that the current  pace is not optimal and that it could introduce the possibility of equipment  failure as specific items remain in use past the Army’s desired timeframe  for recapitalizing equipment every 10 years. However, this pace of  recapitalization includes some risk—as identified by Army officials—and  will likely create challenges in meeting the Army’s long-term goals for the  system. However, the Army’s  reset process has often delivered equipment to units late, affecting units’  ability to schedule and execute training as they prepare for their next  mission. Recommendation for Executive Action

We recommend that the Secretary of the Army ensure that Army Materiel  Command, in coordination with its subordinate and other Army  organizations as appropriate, conducts a comprehensive analysis of the  primary factors affecting timeliness to identify their relative importance in  the Army’s Patriot reset program and develops and implements  appropriate corrective actions. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

To evaluate the extent to which the Army’s reset process supports the  timely delivery of Patriot equipment back to units, we analyzed Army  documents concerning recapitalization and reset activities. To describe the Army’s plans for supporting the long-term viability of the  Patriot system through recapitalization and any challenges associated  with its plans, we analyzed Army regulations, guidance, and planning  documents, as well as Army studies.
Why GAO Did This Study

Patriot is a mobile Army surface-to-air missile system deployed worldwide to defend critical assets and forces. The Army plans to extend the life of Patriot equipment until at least 2048 through maintaining and modernizing the system. To achieve this, the Army performs two maintenance processes, restoring equipment returning from combat back to pre-deployment conditions (“reset”) and comprehensively overhauling ("recapitalizing") a portion of its equipment annually.
The conference report accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 included a provision that GAO assess the Army's Patriot maintenance and recapitalization plans to ensure that operational needs are met. This report (1) evaluates the extent to which the Army's reset process supports the timely delivery of Patriot equipment back to units; and (2) describes the Army's plans for supporting the long-term viability of the Patriot system through recapitalization and any challenges associated with its plans. GAO analyzed Army guidance and equipment and maintenance data; interviewed Army officials; and assessed the Army's recapitalization plans.

What GAO Found

The Army uses reset and recapitalization to extend the life of its Patriot surface-to-air missile system. The reset process—which is intended to repair recently-deployed equipment—has often returned equipment to Patriot units late, which has affected unit training. GAO found that of the seven Patriot battalions that underwent reset from fiscal years 2014 through 2017, only one received its equipment within 180 days, in accordance with Army policy (see figure). Patriot unit officials told GAO that such delays reduced the time available for unit training, creating challenges in meeting training requirements as units prepare for their next mission. The Army has identified and analyzed several factors affecting reset timeliness, ranging from supply chain issues to transportation. However, the Army has not comprehensively analyzed the relative importance of these factors. Such an analysis would better position the Army to target its efforts effectively to ensure units receive equipment back in a timely manner.
Patriot Equipment Reset Timeliness for Units, Fiscal Years 2014-2017
With respect to recapitalization, the Army has decided to recapitalize each battalion set of Patriot equipment once every 15 years to support the system's long-term viability through 2048, while recognizing that this approach introduces some challenges. The Army would prefer to recapitalize Patriot equipment every 10 years, but Army officials stated this is not feasible for the following reasons:
Reducing the amount of equipment for ongoing operational commitments to increase the pace of recapitalization is not feasible given current commitments and the projected security environment.
Buying extra equipment to provide to additional units undergoing recapitalization is not feasible because the Army has prioritized replacing the Patriot radar to improve its capability to defend against advanced threats.
Army officials told GAO that the current pace of recapitalization is not optimal and could introduce challenges, such as the possibility of equipment failure and increased maintenance costs. However, the Army has concluded that the current pace is the best path forward.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that the Army conduct an analysis of the primary factors affecting the Patriot program's reset timeliness to identify their relative importance and develop and implement appropriate corrective actions. The Department of the Army concurred with GAO's recommendation.