Accession Number:

ADA326949

Title:

The Near-Term Gap in U.S. Airlift Capability.

Descriptive Note:

Research rept.,

Corporate Author:

ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Personal Author(s):

• Walden, David C.

Report Date:

1997-04-07

Pagination or Media Count:

32.0

Abstract:

Strategic airlift is a key element in executing the United States national defense strategy. Strategic planners must address such key issues as How much airlift is required, and is our strategic airlift capability sufficient to meet present and future requirements This paper discusses mobility requirements of our national defense strategy, focusing on the strategic airlift requirement. It examines present and near term airlift capabilities of the United States. This will be in the context of determining whether present and planned resources and capabilities are sufficient to meet the mobility requirements set forth in the Mobility Requirement Study Bottom Up Review Update MRS BURU. MRS BURU requires the deployment of sufficient forces to support two nearly simultaneous major regional contingencies. This paper concludes that our airlift capability falls short of stated requirements to move outsize and oversize cargo. Our capability also falls short of the requirement to perform the Brigade Airdrop requirement. Our current policy is to accept the airlift shortfall as risk, rather than spend the enormous resources required to fix the shortfall.

Descriptors:

• *AIRLIFT OPERATIONS
• *NATIONAL DEFENSE
• *RAPID DEPLOYMENT
• MOBILITY
• MILITARY REQUIREMENTS
• MILITARY STRATEGY
• LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT
• MILITARY DOCTRINE
• COMBAT READINESS
• MILITARY CAPABILITIES
• AIR DROP OPERATIONS
• DETERRENCE
• BULK CARGO

Subject Categories:

• Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE