Capabilities-Based Resourcing for Air Force Weapon System Sustainment: Efficiency vs Effectiveness

The United States Air Force USAF never experienced a significant reduction in the scope and intensity of operations in the turbulent years following the overwhelming victory of Operation DESERT SHIELDDESERT STORM. Today, support of United States U.S. national interests consistently require over two million flying hours per year. Moreover, our airmen must accomplish this Herculean task with an aircraft inventory that is now approximately 31 smaller and 42 older than it was in 1991.2 In this time of unrelenting competition for limited fiscal resources, the window of opportunity for the USAF to implement an aggressive weapon system recapitalization and modernization plan is rapidly closing. Moreover, the Department of Defense DoD remains burdened by a cumbersome acquisition process that is influenced by threat assessments to national security, national military priorities, and domestic political considerations.