Personnel Recovery Support System (PRSS)

The Personnel Recovery Support System (PRSS) is a critical program within the Army's Other Procurement budget, specifically under Combat Service Support Equipment. The primary goal of the PRSS is to enhance the Army's ability to report and locate isolated soldiers, units, and elements, particularly in environments where GPS signals are denied or degraded.

This capability is essential for personnel recovery operations, ensuring that forces can be rapidly and accurately located and assisted during contingency and combat situations. The PRSS consists of several key components, most notably the Personnel Recovery Devices (PRD) and other Personnel Recovery Support Equipment (PRSE).

These devices and equipment are designed to function in GPS-denied environments, leveraging alternative technologies to maintain situational awareness and communication with isolated personnel. The objective is to provide robust, reliable tools that support the Army's broader personnel recovery mission, which includes search and rescue, evasion, and extraction operations.

For Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, the program's procurement objectives include acquiring units to address current operational requirements and support ongoing modernization efforts. These quantities and funding levels are intended to ensure that Army units are equipped with the latest personnel recovery technologies.

The Personnel Recovery Devices (PRD) are specifically engineered to enable isolated soldiers to communicate their location and status to recovery forces, even when conventional GPS and communications infrastructure are unavailable. The PRDs utilize secure, resilient communication protocols and may incorporate alternative positioning technologies to overcome adversary attempts to jam or spoof GPS signals. This capability is justified by the increasing likelihood of operations in contested environments where electronic warfare threats are prevalent.

In addition to PRDs, the Personnel Recovery Support Equipment (PRSE) line includes supplementary tools and systems that enhance the overall effectiveness of personnel recovery operations. These may include locator beacons, signaling devices, and other support items that facilitate rapid identification and extraction of isolated personnel. The integration of PRSE with PRDs ensures a comprehensive approach to personnel recovery, addressing both technological and operational needs.

The justification for continued investment in the PRSS program is rooted in the Army's commitment to force protection and operational resilience. As adversaries develop more sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, the risk to isolated personnel increases, necessitating advanced recovery solutions. The PRSS directly supports the Army's strategic objectives by mitigating these risks and improving the likelihood of successful recovery operations in complex and contested environments.

According to the FY 2026 budget documentation, there is no new procurement request for the PRSS in FY 2026. This may reflect a temporary pause in procurement as previously acquired systems are fielded and evaluated, or as requirements are reassessed in light of evolving operational needs. The program remains a vital component of the Army's personnel recovery strategy, and future budget cycles may include additional requests based on ongoing assessments and technological advancements.