Building Combat Strength through Logistics: Translating the New Air Force Logistics Concept of Operations into Action
Abstract
A decade of research involving the unpredictability of peace and wartime demands in the field challenges many of the fundamental principles upon which the Air Force logistics system is based. New decision-tools for dealing with these uncertainties are undergoing prototype testing, development, and implementation. This paper provides background on a new logistics concept of operations for ensuring that the Air Force can fully utilize available resources to optimize aircraft availability under peacetime and wartime conditions. An AFLC perspective is offered on the basic limitations to flexible and responsive logistics support in a high threat conventional conflict and the kind of actions that are required to make the Air Force logistics system of the future more capable of supporting the full spectrum of war scenarios. Today's logistics processes assume wartime requirements can be predicted accurately enough to identify the resources combat units need to be self-sufficient during the initial period of war. Yet peacetime operations and combat simulation demonstrate that this approach is totally inadequate in war. Air bases in theaters of war are no longer safe havens from enemy action; combat damage to runways, maintenance facilities, prepositioned supplies, and other logistics resources will be extremely high. Continuity of operations under these conditions requires much greater integration across air bases, and between the traditional retail and wholesale logistics systems. Rapid reprogramming, priority distribution and repair of critical logistics resources, regional logistics control networks, and flexible transportation systems for inter- and intra- theater logistics support are required for this purpose. (sdw)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA199312
Entities
People
- Klaus H. Seaquist