Employment of the C-17 in Airdrop and Airland Operations in Closing the Force
Abstract
The United States relies on the doctrine of rapid global mobility in support of national objectives in projecting power across strategic distances. On March 26, 2003, fifteen C-17As made history when they airdropped equipment and personnel on Bashur Airfield in Iraq with a follow on airland flow for the next four nights. There has been discussion beginning in the early 20th century on the utility of employing airdrop during combat operations. The purpose of this paper is four fold: first a review of the national strategy of the United States in the concept of rapid global mobility along with a review of air mobility operations; second a review of the capabilities of the C-17 employed during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom; third to review advantages and disadvantages of airland or airdrop operations based on the airdrop of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Northern Iraq and the follow on airland flow; fourth recommendations for future operations based on OIF operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA431814
Entities
People
- M. S. Hershman
Organizations
- United States Army War College