Economic Issues in Military Airlift

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) completed a study and prepared a report on strategic mobility requirements and programs, but many questions remain concerning airlift requirements for a European contingency. The problem that must be resolved by military planners is how to provide the needed forces in the period of time deemed critical to preclude a Warsaw Pact victory. Questions requiring resolution deal with cost and effectiveness of combinations of airlift, sealift, prepositioning and, possibly, the forward deployment of additional forces. The study does not adequately show justification for new airlift programs in terms of a requirement to move certain tonnages to specific locations in a prescribed period of time, although a total strategic movement requirement has been identified. There are a number of procurement, modification, and support programs proposed or under consideration with a total cost that could exceed $10-12 billion. The Department of Defense's fiscal year 1978 budget presentation showed a total program cost of $3.1 billion for four programs proposed to improve strategic airlift capability at individual costs of: $1.3 billion for the C-5A Wing Modification Program, $592 million for the Civil Reserve Air Fleet Modification Program, $677 million for the C-141 Modification Program, and $561 million for spare parts and crew training costs to increase the utilization of the C-5A and C-141. Further study is needed on alternatives to the airlift proposals.