The Airlift Dilemma: An Update

The US, in order to protect its security, must be able to support its forces currently forward deployed as well as projecting other military forces into regions of the world where they do not exist. Time has become a critical factor because of the rapid mobility of modern armed forces and especially for the US because of its geographic isolation from much of the world. Transport by air becomes the only available method of movement during the early stages of conflict. In order to satisfy that requirement, an airlift force structure must be capable of not only meeting the time constraints, but be capable of carrying a combat unit from its origin to its employment area. The current airlift force does not have this capability. After examining doctrinal and strategic principles, this report recommends a force structure which responds to our national military strategy. First, it recommends modernization of the tactical airlift force through purchase of newer model C-130 aircraft from a production line which is still open. Second, it recommends the purchase of a long-range C- 17 type aircraft which, through its method of direct delivery, can avoid the traditional hub and spoke transportation system and save precious reaction time. (Author)