The US Army is at risk of losing many components, including $1.8bn worth of parts for the M1 Abrams, Stryker and M2 Bradley, due to poor storage conditions

Improper storage conditions have resulted in the US Army potentially losing a large number of spare parts for military equipment. We are talking about losses of almost $2 billion.

Here's What We Know

The US Department of Defence inspected the distribution centres of the US Army's Defence Logistics Agency. More than 2 million pieces of spare parts and other equipment worth $3.87bn as of mid-2022 were stored there.

Investigators inspected $1.96 billion worth of equipment at the two distribution centres. Inappropriate storage conditions were found to have caused 92 per cent of the components to deteriorate or be at increased risk. Their value is estimated at $1.8bn, primarily parts for M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, M1 Abrams tanks and Stryker armoured personnel carriers.

Some cases go beyond common sense. For example, 80 gas turbine engines worth a total of $90 million were simply lying in the open on the lawn outside the warehouse. Diesel propulsion systems, transmission components and tank tracks worth tens of millions of dollars were also damaged.

Using storage containers can save millions of dollars. For example, in 2021, the U.S. Army spent nearly $11 million to repair propulsion systems that had fallen into disrepair due to improper storage.

The inspector general made 11 recommendations for improvement. The US Army's Defence Logistics Agency agreed with all of them.

Source: Defence News