Strategic Airlift

Over the past several years, U.S. airlift operations at several air bases in Europe have either been closed or curtailed. As of March 1994, operational capabilities at the six key air bases in Europe that would best support airlift aircraft headed for the Middle East are just enough to meet the mobility requirements spelled out in the Mobility Requirements Study. GAO concludes that ending airlift operations at any of the six European air bases would increase the risk that U.S. troops or cargo destined for a Middle East crisis would arrive too late; further, the Air Force would have to resort to riskier practices, such as aerial refueling and emergency base construction.

GAO found that: (1) although the operational capabilities at the six key air bases in Europe are sufficient to support airlift operations to the Middle East, planned budget cuts and base closings could jeopardize airlift capabilities and operational readiness; (2) the United States may not be able to timely deliver troops and cargo to the Middle East if it does not have full access to its major European airlift facilities; and (3) the Department of Defense will be forced to rely on less cost-effective and risky alternatives, including aerial refueling, and establish new support capabilities at the time of deployment if further cuts are made to overseas airlift bases.