Greater Coordination Required in Defense Planning for Intratheater Airlift Needs
Abstract
Intratheater airlift provides an essential capability to move personnel and materiel quickly within combat theaters and between points which are separated by impassable terrain. Although the Department of Defense has a workable organization to manage such airlift and has made commendable progress in fostering planning efforts, GAO found that Defense planners still do not have adequate information to plan for wartime needs. Where planners have identified shortfalls, Defense efforts to address the problems have fallen short. Airlift may be categorized as intertheater, common use intratheater, and specialized intratheater. Intertheater airlift (also called strategic airlift) involves long-range lift and is managed by the Air Force's Military Airlift Command. Intratheater airlift involves shorter distances, and its responsibilities are divided among Air Force and other military service commands. GAO evaluated Defense's efforts to match intratheater airlift need and capability because of apparent problems and longstanding congressional interest. The evaluation dealt primarily with the common use intratheater airlift managed by the Military Airlift Command.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 1981
- Accession Number
- AD1174800
Entities
People
- Donald J. Horan
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office