Report
Analysis of Global Management of Air Force War Reserve Materiel to Support Operations in Contested and Degraded Environments
In this report, RAND researchers evaluate management approaches and global prepositioning strategies for war reserve materiel, which may help mitigate some of the U.S. military's vulnerabilities when operating in a contested environment.
Jan 14, 2021
Report
The Line Between Disorder and Order: Reflections on RAND's Role in the Evolution of Air Force Logistics Thought and Practice
This report documents the history of the interactions between RAND Corporation logistics researchers and Air Force leaders over more than 40 years to inform decisions involving logistics planning, programming, and budgeting.
Oct 28, 2020
Report
Support to the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center: Enabling AFIMSC's Role in Agile Combat Support Planning, Execution, Monitoring, and Control
This report provides a strategic view of the analytical capabilities that are needed by the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center to allocate resources to and assess the performance of installation and mission support activities.
Jun 23, 2017
Report
An Independent Assessment of Air Force Compliance with Headquarters Reduction Goals
RAND researchers assess the Air Force's response to Secretary of Defense direction to reduce headquarters spending, compare the Air Force's approach with practices from literature and industry, and identify opportunities for further reductions.
Aug 8, 2016
Report
A Conceptual Framework for More Effectively Integrating Combat Support Capabilities and Constraints into Contingency Planning and Execution
This publication describes a conceptual framework for better integrating combat support capabilities and constraints into contingency planning and execution.
Sep 2, 2015
Report
Project AIR FORCE Modeling Capabilities for Support of Combat Operations in Denied Environments
Documents the modeling framework Project AIR FORCE developed to evaluate combat support requirements, basing posture vulnerabilities, operational resilience, and potential mitigation strategies to support combat operations in a denied environment.
Jul 7, 2015
Report
Implementation Actions for Improving Air Force Command and Control Through Enhanced Agile Combat Support Planning, Execution, Monitoring, and Control Processes
Uses a companion architecture to identify and describe where shortfalls exist between current agile combat support (ACS) processes and the vision for integrating enhanced ACS processes into Air Force command and control.
Jun 30, 2014
Report
An Operational Architecture for Improving Air Force Command and Control Through Enhanced Agile Combat Support Planning, Execution, Monitoring, and Control Processes
Presents an architecture that depicts how enhanced ACS processes could be integrated into Air Force command and control to support resource allocation decisions.
Jun 30, 2014
Report
Improving Air Force Command and Control Through Enhanced Agile Combat Support Planning, Execution, Monitoring, and Control Processes
Describes agile combat support (ACS) process gaps and recommends ways to improve Air Force command and control through enhanced ACS planning, execution, monitoring, and control processes.
Dec 19, 2012
Report
Air Force Materiel Command Reorganization Analysis: Final Report
A congressionally mandated review of the proposed restructuring of Air Force Materiel Command examined the proposal and its effect on life-cycle management, weapon system sustainment, and overall support to the warfighter.
Jul 6, 2012
Report
Analysis of the Air Force Logistics Enterprise: Evaluation of Global Repair Network Options for Supporting the C-130
Reallocating C-130 maintenance workloads between mission-generation units and centralized repair facilities offers efficiency and effectiveness benefits to the Air Force, and integrated maintenance concepts may offer additional benefits.
Sep 29, 2011
Report
A Repair Network Concept for Air Force Maintenance: Conclusions from Analysis of C-130, F-16, and KC-135 Fleets
The initial phases of a study of the Air Force logistics enterprise finds that consolidated wing-level scheduled inspections and component back-shop maintenance capabilities would be more effective and efficient than the current system.
Mar 8, 2010
Report
Global Combat Support Basing: Robust Prepositioning Strategies for Air Force War Reserve Materiel
Alternative approaches to storing combat support materiel might provide better support to deploying forces in an expeditionary environment that features frequent force projections, of varying sizes and of unknown durations, to wide-ranging locations.
Jan 14, 2010
Report
Analysis of the Air Force Logistics Enterprise: Evaluation of Global Repair Network Options for Supporting the F-16 and KC-135
Develops an approach for rebalancing aircraft maintenance capabilities between mission generation units and a network of centralized repair facilities, illustrated by an application to the F-16 and KC-135 weapon systems.
Oct 30, 2009
Report
A Common Operating Picture for Air Force Materiel Sustainment: First Steps
Describes a common operating picture for the Air Force materiel sustainment system that, if implemented, would make the system more efficient and more responsive to changing operational needs.
Jul 24, 2008
Report
Options for Meeting the Maintenance Demands of Active Associate Flying Units
Evaluates maintenance options for U.S. Air Force associate units, where the goal of the associate units is to produce trained pilots in the most efficient manner possible.
Jun 5, 2008
Report
Supporting the Future Total Force: A Methodology for Evaluating Potential Air National Guard Mission Assignments
Examines Air Force missions that could be transferred, in whole or in part, to the Air National Guard.
Aug 19, 2007
Report
Space Command Sustainment Review: Improving the Balance Between Current and Future Capabilities
Space assets are vital to the economic, social, and military interests of the United States. Sustainment complexities suggest a need to define a AFSPC commandwide sustainment philosophy separating demand, supply, and integrator processes.
Jun 17, 2007
Report
Sense and Respond Logistics: Integrating Prediction, Responsiveness, and Control Capabilities
This monograph identifies the elements of sense and respond combat support and shows what is necessary to use the concept within the Air Force.
Nov 22, 2006
Research Brief
"Sense and Respond" Capabilities Can Make the Air Force Combat Support System More Agile
This research brief summarizes a promising approach -- sense and respond combat support -- to distributing materiel to fielded forces as they need them and to adapting quickly to changing operational needs.
Nov 16, 2006
Research Brief
Positioning War Reserve Materiel Requires a Flexible, Global Approach
This research brief summarizes strategies for positioning war reserve materiel so that it can support a variety of future combat operations at minimal cost and maximum speed.
Aug 31, 2006
Report
Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Expanded Operational Architecture for Combat Support Execution Planning and Control
Develops operational architecture to guide the development of combat support command and control (CSC2).
Aug 31, 2006
Report
Strategic Analysis of Air National Guard Combat Support and Reachback Functions
Evaluates options for Air National Guard combat support and reachback missions in four Air Force mission areas to support the Air and Space Expeditionary Force and Future Total Force capabilities.
Aug 18, 2006
Research Brief
Transforming Combat Support in the Air National Guard Would Support Air Force Deployment and Sustainment Goals
This research brief summarizes an evaluation of four options for transforming Air National Guard combat support mission areas to enhance support to the Air and Space Expeditionary Force.
Aug 16, 2006
Report
Evaluation of Options for Overseas Combat Support Basing
Presents an analytic framework and model for evaluating options for overseas combat support basing.
Aug 8, 2006
Research Brief
Enhancing Airlift Planning and Execution in the Joint Theater Distribution System
This research brief describes how improvements in processes, organization, doctrine, training, and systems can help improve the effective and efficient movement of equipment and personnel in contingency operations.
Jun 28, 2006
Report
A Framework for Enhancing Airlift Planning and Execution Capabilities Within the Joint Expeditionary Movement System
How can the Air Force improve the planning and execution activities associated with developing intratheater airlift operations within the military joint end-to-end multimodal movement system?
May 1, 2006
Research Brief
Integrated Operational and Combat Support Planning Will Support Air and Space Expeditionary Forces
This research brief summarizes improvements and shortfalls of the Air Force's combat support command and control (CSC2) architecture and recommends further improvements that will be integral to its continued success.
Jan 19, 2006
Research Brief
Improving Agile Combat Support for the U.S. Air Force: Lessons from Operation Iraqi Freedom
Nov 25, 2005
Research Brief
Improving Wing-Level Logistics in the U.S. Air Force: An Analytic Approach for the Chief's Logistics Review
RAND Project AIR FORCE (PAF) was asked, as an analytic advisor to the Air Force, to develop an analytic approach to ensure that the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) received all potential options and a costs/benefits analysis of each.
Nov 25, 2005
Research Brief
New Analytic Tools Evaluate Overseas Combat Support Basing Options for the U.S. Air Force
RAND Project AIR FORCE (PAF) developed a set of analytic tools that can be used to evaluate various storage options to meet a given set of operational scenarios.
Nov 25, 2005
Report
The Air Force Chief of Staff Logistics Review: Improving Wing-Level Logistics
Describes a review conducted as a joint effort by the U.S. Air Force and the RAND Corporation (acting as analytic advisor) to develop improvement options for mitigating wing-level logistics problems that began in the 1990s.
Feb 28, 2005
Report
Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Lessons from Operation Iraqi Freedom
Presents an analysis of Air Force combat support experiences associated with the year of planning and the first month of combat in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and compares these experiences with those associated with Operation Allied Force and the first 100 days of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Feb 15, 2005
Report
Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Lessons from Operation Enduring Freedom
Presents an analysis of Air Force combat support experiences associated with Operation Enduring Freedom and compares these experiences with those associated with Operation Allied Force (OAF) to determine similarities and applicability of lessons across ex
2004
Research Brief
Centralized Maintenance Can Improve Combat Support in the Air and Space Expeditionary Force
Military aircraft maintenance is an area of special concern because of the large amount of facilities, equipment, and personnel needed to keep aircraft operational during a conflict.
2004
Report
Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Analysis of Combat Support Basing Options
Evaluates global forward support locations (FSLs) for storing war reserve materiel and presents a framework for evaluating FSL options.
2004
Report
Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Analysis of Maintenance Forward Support Location Operations
Examines the development and recent implementation of maintenance forward support locations, also known as Centralized Intermediate Repair Facilities.
2004
Report
Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: An Operational Architecture for Combat Support Execution Planning and Control
Defines and analyzes the current command and control architecture for combat support, identifies changes needed in the architecture to meet Aerospace Expeditionary Force goals and correct deficiencies, and sets forth detailed concepts for a future architecture.
2002
Report
Strategic Appraisal: United States Air and Space Power in the 21st Century
This report draws on the expertise of researchers from across RAND to explore both the challenges and opportunities that the U.S. Air Force faces as it strives to support the nation's interests in a challenging technological and security environment.
2002
Report
Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: Expanded Analysis of LANTIRN Options
This analysis addresses logistics structure alternatives for meeting demands for Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) across a spectrum of operational requirements.
2001
Journal Article
Expeditionary Operations: Intermediate Engine Maintenance Alternatives
Options for Jet Engine Intermediate Maintenance (JEIM) structures for F100 engines on F-15 and F-16 aircraft and TF-34 engines on A-10 aircraft.
2001
Report
A Framework for Evolving Agile Combat Support Concepts to Meet NATO Reaction Air Force Operational Requirements
The authors explore a planning framework that could be used in evolving the Agile Combat Support and mobility systems of participating partners to meet the operational needs of the NATO Reaction Air Force.
2001
Research Brief
Supporting LANTIRN in the Expeditionary Aerospace Force
RAND's EAF combat support research evaluates how alternative support structures, technologies, and methods affect EAF capabilities.
2001
Report
Flexbasing: Achieving Global Presence for Expeditionary Aerospace Forces
Flexbasing: Achieving Global Presence for Expeditionary Aerospace Forces
2000
Report
Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: A Concept for Evolving the Agile Combat Support/Mobility System of the Future
The Air Force has begun to reorganize into an Expeditionary Aerospace Force (EAF). This report summarizes RAND work to date on designing and evaluating the future agile combat system and mobility system needed to meet EAF operational objectives.
2000
Report
Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: New Agile Combat Support Postures
This report addresses support of emerging Air Force employment strategies associated with Expeditionary Aerospace Forces (EAFs).
2000
Report
Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: An Analysis of F-15 Avionics Options
Assesses how well alternative logistics processes and organizational designs for meeting F-15 avionics maintenance demands across the spectrum of EAF operations support this concept.
2000
Research Brief
An Evolving Agile Combat Support System
Researching both current support system needs and how these may evolve as threats, technol-ogy, and support processes change.
2000
Journal Article
Expeditionary Airpower: EAF Support Challenges : LANTIRN Intermediate Maintenance Concepts
LANTIRN support lends itself to support structures such as consolidation that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the combat support system.
2000
Journal Article
Global Access: Strategy 2000
Defense basing decisions reflect both military needs and political conditions.
2000
Research Brief
A Strategic Planning Framework for EAF Support
Strategic Agile Combat Support (ACS) design, tradeoff, and investment decisions must be made to create the capabilities needed for future expeditionary operations.
2000
Journal Article
Strategy 2000: Alternate Munitions Prepositioning
The Air Force has a substantial amount of munitions prepositoned in Southwest Asia and aboard ships in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
2000
Report
Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: An Integrated Strategic Agile Combat Support Planning Framework
The report argues that the new Expeditionary Aerospace Force (EAF) concept requires a complete reexamination of the combat support system, especially the planning framework for combat support.
1999
Journal Article
Expeditionary Airpower: A Global Infrastructure to Support EAF
The United States has entered an entirely new security environment. It is now the only global superpower in a world of many regional powers.
1999
Journal Article
Expeditionary Airpower: A Vision for Agile Combat Support
To a large extent, success of Expeditionary Aerospace Forces depends on turning the current combat support system into one that is much more agile.
1999
Journal Article
Expeditionary Airpower: EAF Strategic Planning
A key challenge for the Air Force is strategic planning to support the Expeditionary Aerospace Force (EAF).
1999
Journal Article
Expeditionary Airpower: F-15 Support Analysis: Exploring F-15 Avionics Intermediate Maintenance Concepts to Meet AEF Challenges
Examines options the Air Force might consider for F-15 avionics maintenance to work toward achieving EAF goals.
1999
Report
An Initial Evaluation of the VISION Assessment System: Its Relevance and Application to National-Level Sustainment Planning
Documents the demonstration of a prototype decision support system for logisticians called the VISION Assessment System, or VAS.
1992
Report
The VISION Assessment System: Class IX Sustainment Planning
Describes the underlying motivation, characteristics, and possible applications of the VISION (Visibility of Support Options) Assessment System, a decision support system designed to improve the ability of Army logisticians to address three issues ...
1992
Report
An Evaluation of the VISION Execution System Demonstration Prototypes
Describes the prototype development for a U.S. Army combat-oriented logistics execution system with VISION (Visibility of Support Options).
1991
Report
The Concept of Operations for a U.S. Army Combat-Oriented Logistics Execution System with VISION (Visibility of Support Options)
Describes a concept of operations for a decision support system intended to assist field- and wholesale-level logisticians to prioritize repair and distribution actions for high-technology reparable items.
1990
Report
Measuring and Managing Readiness: The Concept and Design of the Combat Support Capability Management System
This Note describes a prototype management system designed to help logistics managers assess wartime readiness and identify resources and policy changes that could dramatically improve it.
1982