Meeting Future Airlift Requirements: Briefing on Preliminary Analysis of Costs of Alternative Approaches
Abstract
The Airlift Master Plan provided a clear alternative for structuring the future airlift fleet. The foundation of the plan is the C-17 aircraft. Under the Air Force alternative, at least 180 of these aircraft will be procured before the end of the century. The Air Force views this as a modernization alternative that will meet the intertheater airlift requirement while allowing them to streamline the current fleet. As an alternative to the Air Force plan, the Congress could choose to continue to procure existing aircraft, namely C-5s and KC-10s, to meet a specific airlift requirement. This alternative projects the strengths and limitations of current airlift into the future. This briefing presents a comparison of near-term and long-term costs of two alternatives. Since both meet the mobility requirement of 66 MTM/day, the difference in cost between the two alternatives may be the decisive factor. Near-term costs tend to reflect the acquisition costs associated with each alternative. Long-term costs reflect the steady state operating and support costs of the alternatives. In a more thorough study to be released this summer, CBO will also examine alternatives that emphasize sealift investments as directed by the Committee. Time was not available to include this analysis in this briefing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA616279
Entities
People
- John D. Mayer Jr.
- William P. Myers
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office