Intratheater Airlift Functional Area Analysis (FAA)

This functional area analysis is the first in a trio of documents that the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System requires for a capabilities-based assessment of intratheater airlift capabilities. This volume sets the stage for the assessment by laying out the tasks, conditions, and standards required for the intratheater airlift fleet. The authors gleaned these by examining high-level guidance from the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy; service concepts of operations and the family of Joint Future Concepts, both themselves developed from the national strategies; and recent experience in Afghanistan and Iraq for insight into the current operational environment. Because the analytical results will be sensitive to the operational variables, the authors also outlined these, some of the most important being the number of delivery points; the terrain; air base accessibility; the total amount, size, and weight of each supply class to be delivered by air; the number of personnel to be delivered by air; the required response time; the mission characteristics; and the threat level.