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Aviation Maintenance

Maintenance of military aircraft often requires the acquisition and procurement of new and technologically advanced equipment, which is a major expense for any nation. RAND has researched and evaluated military acquisition, procurement, and maintenance activities for decades, providing essential recommendations to allow military decisionmakers to manage costs and make effective decisions and policy regarding aircraft sustainment activities.

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Standoff Over Senkaku Islands Carries Growing Risk of Miscalculation

China has stepped up its vessel and air activities near the disputed Senkaku Islands. Japan has made posture changes and increased the quantity of aircraft and radar in the region, but it does not have the resources to match Chinese air activity. And since it's an issue of domestic air sovereignty, the U.S. is limited in what it can do to assist Japan.

Dec 3, 2018
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Assessing the Training and Operational Proficiency of China's Aerospace Forces: Selections from the Inaugural Conference of the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI)

This volume contains revised versions of three presentations on Chinese aerospace training and operational competence issues from a June 2015 China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) conference.

Oct 20, 2016
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Can the Air Force and Airlines Collaborate for Mutual Benefit? An Exploration of Pilot and Maintenance Workforce Options

This report explores ways the Air Force and commercial airlines could collaborate on issues related to their pilot and maintenance workforces by evaluating benefits, costs, and feasibility from the perspectives of both sides.

Apr 21, 2016
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Consolidating Air Force Maintenance Occupational Specialties

This report examines the cost and readiness implications of consolidating maintenance occupational specialties for new and legacy mobility fleets. Implications are derived from an assessment conducted for the KC-135 fleet.

Mar 9, 2016
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A Review of Selected International Aircraft Spares Pooling Programs: Lessons Learned for F-35 Spares Pooling

Development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was shared by nine countries, who agreed that F-35 sustainment assets would be managed as a global pool. This report reviews other military aircraft spares pooling programs to identify lessons learned.

Feb 18, 2016
Multimedia

Do Joint Fighter Programs Save Money?

In this March 28th Congressional Briefing, Mark Lorell discusses how the need to accommodate different service requirements into a single jet fighter design or common design family leads to increased program complexity and cost growth.

Mar 28, 2014
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Enabling Early Sustainment Decisions: Application to F-35 Depot-Level Maintenance

The U.S. Air Force has long struggled to incorporate new weapon system logistics requirements and support system design considerations into its broader sustainment enterprise early in the acquisition process. RAND developed a framework that helps planners visualize sustainment data and compare new programs with legacy Air Force systems.

Dec 20, 2013
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Modernizing the Mobility Air Force for Tomorrow's Air Traffic Management System

Building on RAND work examining the cost-effectiveness of modernizing the U.S. Air Force's KC-10 aerial refueling tanker to comply with airspace modernization mandates, this study extended the analysis to the C-5, C-17, C-130, and KC-135 fleets.

Dec 6, 2012
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Improving Air Force Depot Programming by Linking Resources to Capabilities

Depot purchased equipment maintenance (DPEM) funds the bulk of the work done at Air Force depots that does not involve the repair of spares or work on modification programs. This report analyzes how to better program for DPEM.

Nov 21, 2012
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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
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Options for and Costs of Retaining C-17 Aircraft Production-Only Tooling

When production ceases, tools must be used elsewhere, disposed of, or stored; the authors examine these tooling retention issues for the C-17 cargo aircraft.

Feb 23, 2012
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Upgrading the Extender: Which Options Are Cost-Effective for Modernizing the KC-10?

The Air Force is considering upgrades to the KC-10 in several areas. An assessment of options to upgrade the KC-10 weighed the costs and potential benefits of the upgrades against demands in different types of operations and KC-10 roles.

Feb 25, 2011
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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
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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
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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
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Assessing Capabilities and Risks in Air Force Programming: Framework, Metrics, and Methods

A method for capabilities-based programming is developed to assist the programming of a wide range of resources in light of an uncertain future, expressing capabilities and risks of resource allocations in terms of national planning objectives.

Apr 1, 2009
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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
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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
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Programmed Depot Maintenance Capacity Assessment Tool: Workloads, Capacity, and Availability

Describes a model for evaluating organic and contractor capacity to meet aircraft programmed depot maintenance (PDM) workloads, using an assessment tool that forecasts the number of aircraft that will be in maintenance over the coming decades.

May 20, 2007
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The Maintenance Costs of Aging Aircraft: Insights from Commercial Aviation

Examines patterns in commercial-aircraft maintenance costs as aircraft grow older to produce lessons about aging aircraft that may be relevant to the Air Force.

Nov 30, 2006

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Research conducted by

RAND Project AIR FORCE