Accession Number:

ADA516653

Title:

Austere Recovery of Cargo Gliders

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV WASHINGTON DC INST FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Thoms, Keith H.
• Berry, Gerald
• Jett, Lee

Report Date:

2008-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

7.0

Abstract:

Cargo gliders and their recovery technique offer proven capabilities that can revolutionize tactical sustainment. The technique also provides comprehensive expeditionary resupply that is fast, safe, and economical. This technology overflies the improvised explosive device threat as well as terrain lacking sufficient airports, seaports, and roads. Improving the speed, range, and efficiency of resupply hastens operational success and reduces casualties and materiel loss. The increasingly nonlinear expeditionary battlefield stretches current resupply capabilities, including the entire seabased supply chain rotorcraft ranges, capacities, and speeds and tactics involving beachheads and ground convoys. The ship-to-objective maneuver and distributed operations of expeditionary maneuver warfare are effective vanguard multipliers to frontline strategies. However, the security, operational availability, throughput, timing, and expense of their rearguard logistical support are issues when considering counterstrike, maintenance, higher elevations, and weather. Resupply across the last tactical mile to the warfighter is a challenge for tactical heavy airlift. The issues include unsecured lines of communication, seabase connectors, and unsophisticated ambushes.

Descriptors:

• *GLIDERS
• LOGISTICS SUPPORT
• WEATHER
• CARGO
• ELEVATION
• TACTICAL WARFARE
• AIRLIFT OPERATIONS
• REPRINTS
• CASUALTIES

Subject Categories:

• Gliders and Parachutes

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE