A Global Access Strategy for the U.S. Air Force

by Shlapak, David A.; Stillio, John; Oliker, Olga; Charlick-Paley, Tanya

• ISBN13: 9780833029591
• ISBN10: 0833029592
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-19
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

A set of recommendations for a global access stragey to render the USAF better equipped to meet its access and basing needs and hence to perform its missions both rapidly and effectively.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	ix
Tables	xi
Summary	xiii
Acknowledgments	xxv
Acronyms	xxvii
Introduction	1	(14)
The Expeditionary Imperative	2	(3)
The Challenge of Access	5	(8)
Organization of This Report	13	(2)
The Politics of Access	15	(28)
Three Kinds of Access	16	(3)
Permanent Presence	16	(1)
Mission Presence	17	(1)
Limited Access	17	(1)
Formal Agreements and the Determinants of Access	18	(1)
Regional Perspectives and Prospects	19	(18)
Europe	19	(5)
Southwest Asia and the Middle East	24	(3)
Asia	27	(6)
Latin America	33	(2)
Africa	35	(2)
Implications	37	(6)
Close Alignment	37	(1)
Shared Interests and Objectives	38	(1)
Hopes for Closer Ties with the United States	39	(1)
Fear of Reprisals	40	(1)
Conflicting Goals and Interests	40	(1)
Domestic Public Opinion	41	(2)
Operational Considerations Affecting Access Requirements	43	(30)
Overview	43	(3)
Limitations of This Analysis	45	(1)
Aircraft Mix and Base Requirements	46	(5)
Matching Supply to Demand: Bedding Down the Force	51	(4)
Basing for the Fighter Force	51	(3)
Basing the Support Aircraft	54	(1)
Combat Capability and Basing	55	(9)
Estimating Fighter Ranges	57	(1)
Refueling Capacity and Fuel Requirements	58	(3)
Estimating Fighter Sortie Rates	61	(2)
Sortie Rates to Strikes	63	(1)
Loosening Constraints to Restore Combat Power	64	(6)
Increasing Crew Ratios or Tanker Support	65	(2)
Increasing Crew Ratios and Tanker Support	67	(3)
Summary and Conclusions	70	(3)
Access in Operations Other Than War: Rapid, Sustainable Deployments to Remote Locations	73	(18)
Introduction	73	(2)
The Challenge of Complex Operations Other than War	75	(9)
Sizing the Force: Lessons from Somalia and Rwanda	76	(1)
Anticipating Demand for Airlift	77	(3)
Timing for Deployment: Lessons from Rwanda	80	(4)
Limits on Basing	84	(1)
Conclusions and Implications	84	(5)
The Likelihood of ``Mission Creep''	85	(2)
The Need for Rapid Response	87	(1)
Limited Infrastructure and Politics Play Havoc with Access	88	(1)
Summing Up	89	(2)
Developing A Global Access Strategy for the Air Force	91	(18)
Five ``Pure'' Strategies	92	(7)
Expand Overseas MOBs	93	(1)
Rely on the Reliable	93	(1)
Expand Security Agreements and Alliances	94	(1)
``Rent-a-Rock''	95	(1)
Project Power from U.S. Territory	96	(3)
Managing Uncertainty with an Access ``Portfolio''	99	(7)
Core Investments	99	(3)
Hedging Against Risk	102	(2)
Exploiting Opportunity	104	(1)
Areas of Immediate Concern	104	(2)
Concluding Remarks	106	(3)
Appendix: Aircraft Configurations and Ramp Requirements	109	(4)
Bibliography	113