Expeditionary Airpower

To a large extent, success of Expeditionary Aerospace Forces depends on turning the current combat support system into one that is much more agile. The Air Force faces support system design tradeoffs between speed and costs. These tradeoffs will change as support technologies, policies, and practices change. RAND, with the Air Force Logistics Management Agency, has been researching current support needs and how these may evolve as threats, technology, and support processes change. This research indicates that the Air Force goal of deploying an expeditionary force within 48 hours can now be met only under certain conditions. The need for a support system that meets current expeditionary combat operations requirements and can adapt to evolving processes and technologies suggests that any such system comprise forward operating locations, forward support locations, CONUS support locations, and a transportation network and logistics command and control system.