Sustaining Agile Operations

Volume 2, Energy and Water Technology Survey

Richard Harry, Dahlia Anne Goldfeld, Kristin Van Abel, Kristin F. Lynch

ResearchPublished Jul 23, 2026

This report assesses emerging energy and water technologies that could enhance the U.S. Air Force’s ability to sustain agile combat operations in contested environments. It evaluates developments in portable power generation, storage, and purification—from airborne wind turbines to atmospheric water harvesting—highlighting their maturity, deployability, costs, and logistical implications for expeditionary resilience.

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Harry, Richard, Dahlia Anne Goldfeld, Kristin Van Abel, and Kristin F. Lynch, Sustaining Agile Operations: Volume 2, Energy and Water Technology Survey. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2026. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3582-2.html.
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This research was sponsored by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment and conducted by RAND Project AIR FORCE.

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