2). Increased economic activity in the Arctic could potentially increase the  need for military capabilities there to safeguard U.S. interests. The Navy’s Report Aligns with Current Assessments of Arctic Threat Levels and Capabilities Required to Execute DOD’s Arctic Strategy

The Navy’s June 2018 report aligns with DOD’s assessments that the  Arctic threat level remains low and that DOD has the capabilities required  to execute its 2016 DOD Arctic Strategy. Specifically, the June 2018  report and the information it provides for each of the reporting elements  discusses how the department can execute the 2016 DOD Arctic  Strategy. The Arctic threat assessment briefings we received from officials at the  U.S. Northern Command and the Office of Naval Intelligence also  reflected the low risk for conflict in the Arctic referenced in the Navy’s  June 2018 report. Report Provides Information on Current Naval Capabilities in the Arctic That Align with DOD’s Strategy

Reporting Element One: The Navy was required to report on the current naval  capabilities of the Department of Defense in the Arctic region, with a particular  emphasis on surface capabilities. In addition, the Navy discusses the significant limitations of its surface  ships for Arctic operations in the June 2018 report. In  addition, DOD officials stated that the United States already has options  other than Navy surface ships for demonstrating the United States’  freedom to operate in the Arctic, including using Coast Guard vessels,  Navy submarines, or military aircraft. The Navy Does Not Have a Capability Requirement to Ice- Harden Existing Vessels or Construct New Ones and Is Evaluating Arctic- Related Capabilities Using the Established DOD Process

Navy officials said that the Navy does not currently have a specific  capability requirement for ice-hardening existing vessels or for the  construction of new ones, and stated that the Navy or Joint Force is  unlikely to produce such a requirement in the near term. Navy officials  told us that the Navy will continue to use DOD’s established process, the  Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), which  governs the department’s requirements process, to assess Arctic-related  capability requirements in the near and long term (see fig. In October 2017, the  Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) validated U.S. Northern  Command’s initial capabilities document identifying three gaps in the  ability to exercise/deploy, position, and conduct deterrence/decisive  operations in ice-diminished Arctic waters. At the time of our review, the  JROC had reviewed and validated the U.S. Northern Command’s Arctic  initial capabilities document and designated it for further study by the  Navy. A Navy official stated that the capability gaps identified in the U.S.  Northern Command’s validated initial capabilities document will now  compete for resources with other issues designated for study across the  Navy. They told us that potential  solutions might also include alternatives other than ice-hardening or new  ship construction, such as adding capabilities to Coast Guard ships or  partnering with allies to achieve common strategic goals in the Arctic. Agency Comments

We are not making any recommendations in this report. DOD, Department of Homeland  Security, and Department of State provided technical comments, which  we incorporated into this report as appropriate.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Navy is responsible for providing ready forces for current operations and contingency response in the Arctic Ocean. According to data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, the coverage of sea ice in the Arctic has diminished significantly since 1981. This could potentially increase maritime activities there, leading to a need for a greater U.S. military and homeland security presence in the region.
Public Law 115-91 required the Navy to report to Congress on the Navy's capabilities in the Arctic, including any capability gaps and requirements for ice-hardened vessels. It also included a provision for GAO to review the Navy's report. This report (1) assesses the extent to which the Navy's report aligns with current assessments of Arctic threat levels and capabilities required to execute DOD's 2016 Arctic Strategy and (2) describes any current requirements for ice-hardened vessels and DOD's approach for evaluating the capabilities needed as Arctic requirements evolve.
GAO reviewed the Navy's report along with DOD's assessments of Arctic threats and naval capabilities. GAO also reviewed the 2016 DOD Arctic Strategy— the most current strategy, DOD and Department of State information on the freedom of navigation program as well as DOD's processes for developing capabilities and assessing Arctic capability gaps.
GAO is not making any recommendations in this report. DOD provided written technical comments which were incorporated as appropriate.

What GAO Found

The Navy's June 2018 report aligns with Department of Defense (DOD) assessments that the Arctic is at low risk for conflict and that DOD has the capabilities to execute the 2016 DOD Arctic Strategy . The June 2018 report also aligns with assessments of Arctic capabilities and gaps in the Navy's 2014 roadmap for implementing the strategy. The June 2018 report states that the Navy can execute the strategy with subsurface, aviation, and surface assets. The report notes the significant limitations for operating surface ships in the Arctic, but states that the Navy has the capabilities required for executing the strategy , and so has no plan to design ice-hardened surface ships. In addition, DOD officials stated that the United States has options other than Navy surface ships for demonstrating the U.S. right to operate in the Arctic, including using Coast Guard vessels, Navy submarines, or military aircraft.
Navy officials said that the Navy does not have a specific requirement for ice-hardening existing vessels or constructing new ones. The Navy plans to continue to use DOD's established process, the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System to reassess Arctic-related requirements as conditions evolve (see fig.). In October 2017, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council validated U.S. Northern Command's initial capabilities document identifying three gaps in the ability to exercise/deploy, position, and conduct deterrence/decisive operations in ice-diminished Arctic waters. At the time of GAO's review, the Joint Staff had validated the capability gaps, which will now compete for resources with other issues designated for further study. Officials said additional study may identify alternative solutions such as adding capabilities to Coast Guard ships or partnering with allies to achieve common strategic goals in the Arctic.