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Aircraft

Research insights into aircraft selection and maintenance, crew training, test facilities, and airspace access are valuable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and U.S. and allied air forces. RAND studies have also examined military air power and aerospace industry issues.

Report
Use of the C-27J Fixed-Wing Aircraft for Conducting Army Mission Critical, Time Sensitive Missions in Counterinsurgency Operations
Considers use of the C-27J Spartan to deliver mission critical, time sensitive cargo and passengers in Iraq and Afghanistan and how to improve the resupply routes and the air tasking procedures the Army uses there.
Aug 24, 2010
Report
Applications for Navy Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Evaluates the U.S. Navy's ongoing and proposed unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs and describes the most promising applications of those UASs to the Navy's operational tasks.
Jun 8, 2010
Testimony
Potential Effects of Chinese Aerospace Capabilities on U.S. Air Force Operations
In testimony presented before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Jeff Hagen evaluates the balance between observed Chinese capabilities and U.S. forces in light of China's continued modernization of its military.
May 12, 2010
Testimony
The Development of China's Air Force Capabilities
In testimony presented before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Roger Cliff reviews the capabilities of China's air forces as part of understanding the nature of the military challenge China is presenting to the United States.
May 11, 2010
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
United States Air Force Aircraft Fleet Retention Trends: A Historical Analysis
Provides historical contextual information on the ages of aircraft designs operated by the Air Force.
Nov 23, 2009
Report
RAND Project AIR FORCE Annual Report 2009
This annual report describes selected RAND Project AIR FORCE research during 2009 in the areas of strategy and doctrine; force modernization and employment; manpower, personnel, and training; and resource management.
Nov 4, 2009
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
Should the U.S. Air Force Modernize Its Refueling Fleet to Meet Upcoming Mandates?
The U.S. Air Force's KC-10 air refueling fleet has been in service for 25 years without a major avionics upgrade. Without modernization, the KC-10 will not be in compliance with upcoming air traffic management mandates regulating the minimum allowed communication, navigation, and surveillance capabilities.
Oct 14, 2009
Report
Challenges and Issues with the Further Aging of U.S. Air Force Aircraft: Policy Options for Effective Life-Cycle Management of Resources
Several challenges and issues relating to the further aging of already-old U.S. Air Force aircraft must be addressed and policy options developed to direct the life-cycle management of resources to maintain such aircraft over the next 20 years.
Mar 24, 2009
Report
An Examination of the Relationship Between Usage and Operating-and-Support Costs of U.S. Air Force Aircraft
Examining current U.S. Air Force budgeting approaches, this research estimates the relationship between multiple Air Force systems' expenditures, flying hours, and fleet sizes, suggesting a more sophisticated way to think about Air Force costs.
Mar 20, 2009
Report
Titanium: Industrial Base, Price Trends, and Technology Initiatives
Analyzes the underlying factors that triggered the unprecedented surge in titanium price after 2003 and reviews future market prospects and emerging technologies to assess their implications for the production cost of future military airframes.
Mar 11, 2009
Report
The Netherlands F-16 Comparative Analysis: An Evaluation of the Process
In 2008, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence conducted a comparative analysis of potential candidates to replace its F-16 fighter aircraft. This report presents RAND Europe's evaluation of that analysis.
Dec 16, 2008
Report
Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Analysis of CONUS Centralized Intermediate Repair Facilities
Evaluates CONUS use of Centralized Intermediate Repair Facilities for off-equipment repair of aircraft components and presents analytic network design method developed for the identification of cost-efficient alternatives for such networks.
Nov 23, 2008
Report
RAND Project AIR FORCE Annual Report 2008
For 60 years, RAND Project AIR FORCE (PAF) has offered objective, independent analysis on issues of enduring concern to Air Force leaders. Current research focuses on strategy and doctrine; force modernization and employment; manpower, personnel, and training; and resource management. This report offers highlights from PAF's 2008 efforts.
Nov 10, 2008
News Release
Statement Regarding Media Coverage of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Andrew Hoehn, Director of RAND Project Air Force, made a statement today regarding articles that have appeared in the Australian press with assertions regarding a war game in which analysts from RAND were involved.
Sep 25, 2008
Report
Insights on Aircraft Programmed Depot Maintenance: An Analysis of F-15 PDM
This technical report describes the F-15 programmed depot maintenance (PDM) process as performed at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (WR-ALC) in FYs 2004-2006, assessing PDM duration and the challenges the process faces.
Jul 21, 2008
Report
Why Has the Cost of Fixed-Wing Aircraft Risen? A Macroscopic Examination of the Trends in U.S. Military Aircraft Costs over the Past Several Decades
This report explores why, in recent decades, military fixed-wing aircraft costs have escalated faster than the rates of inflation, examining both economy-driven factors that the Services cannot control and customer-driven ones that they can.
Jun 25, 2008
Research Brief
Test and Evaluation Facilities and Capabilities: Is the Air Force Overinvested?
This research brief describes a RAND examination of the costs and benefits of a proposed consolidation of Air Force test and evaluation facilities that had raised concerns among a broad set of interested parties, including members of Congress.
May 28, 2008
Report
Opportunities for Systems Engineering to Contribute to Durability and Damage Tolerance of Hybrid Structures for Airframes
Ensuring that airframe structures made of hybrid materials are durable and damage tolerant will require the efforts and coordination of multiple engineering specialties, including systems engineers.
May 12, 2008

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Joe Eyerman

Senior Political Scientist

Joe Eyerman is a senior political scientist in the RAND Corporation's Washington office. His work focuses on the intersection of innovation, technology, government policy and decision making. He has directed studies on technology assessment and integration, 5G security applications, labor…
Michelle Woods

Associate Director, RAND Homeland Security Research Division

Michelle Woods is the associate director of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD), which operates the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC). She is also a senior defense researcher at the RAND Corporation.

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