Analyses of spares for new weapons systems using Markov chains

A high percentage of a new weapons systems components are usually identical to existing components in the inventory or components which can be slightly modified to serve the same purpose. Thus DOD (US Department of Defense) can rely upon field experience to determine the proper quantity of these components for Tables of Allowance. In determining the proper allowance for such tables, only 20 percent of a new aircraft’s components must rely heavily upon estimates of failure rates and average repair times of the craft. This report centers on techniques involved in answering the complex questions of equipment, spares, meantime between failures and service time trade-off. Actual data were used to validate the model and confirm its logic and potenital value.