Commercial Intratheater Airlift: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Use in U.S. Central Command
Abstract
Intratheater airlift (ITA) is used to deliver critical and time-sensitive supplies, such as blood products for transfusions or repair parts for vehicles, to deployed forces. ITA within a combat theater of operation has traditionally been assumed to be provided by military aircraft. However, in recent years, a number of commercial providers have been providing a significant amount of ITA within U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). A number of motivations for the use of commercial intratheater airlift (CITA) within USCENTCOM have been identified, such as: (1) concerns about structural fatigue to C-130 aircraft due to the heavy use of these aircraft in USCENTCOM; (2) lack of access to C-130 aircrews, particularly those in the Air Reserve Component, for deployments; (3) a desire to reduce the use of convoys over high-threat roadways. The analysis detailed in this report aims to answer the following question: Were these expenditures on CITA cost-effective, relative to the cost of performing these same movements on organic U.S. Air Force (USAF) aircraft? That is, did the Department of Defense (DoD) get a good value on these purchases?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA582585
Entities
People
- Brent Thomas
- Ricardo Sanchez
- Ronald G McGarvey
- Thomas Light
Organizations
- RAND Corporation