DoD's Mobility Requirements: Alternative Assumptions Could Affect Recommended Acquisition Plan
Abstract
At the direction of the Congress, the Department of Defense (DoD) is studying the number and mix of mobility assets it will need to more rapidly move its forces overseas in future conflicts. Mobility assets include cargo ships, transport aircraft, and military equipment prepositioned on ships near potential trouble spots. DoD issued the first volume of its Mobility Requirements Study(MRS) in January 1992 containing its conclusions and recommendations. The MRS found that in 1999 the United States will not have sufficient mobility capability in a number of areas. To reduce a projected shortfall in the U.S. ability to rapidly deploy armed forces overseas, the study recommended that United States acquire 20 large sealift ships, continue the current acquisition program for C-17 transport aircraft increase the number and readiness of ships in the Ready Reserve Force, and purchase rail cars and take other actions to improve DoD's ability to move units from their peacetime locations to airports and seaports. Our report focuses on the sealift and airlift portions of the MRS because they involve large defense acquisition programs. If approved by the Congress, the sealift expansion program-including the 20 large sealift ships and the additions and improvements to the Ready Reserve Force-would cost an estimated $11.6 billion by fiscal year 1999. DoD's currently approved plan to acquire 120 C-17 aircraft (to replace the aging C-141 aircraft fleet) has an estimated cost $41 billion. We have also issued several other reports addressing issues related to strategic mobility. These are listed at the end of this report
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA264641
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office