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Strategic Mobility: Serious Problems Remain in U.S. Deployment Capabilities (Testimony, 04/26/94, GAO/T-NSIAD-94-165)

The Pentagon has identified extensive mobility requirements for its
sealift and airlift forces.  During major regional conflicts, the
requirements call for moving as much cargo in eight weeks as was moved
during the first six months of the Persian Gulf War.  In a 1993 report,
GAO questioned many of the assumptions underlying these requirements.
The Defense Department's (DOD) stated mobility requirements are likely
to increase even further under a DOD study now under way.  To help meet
current requirements, more ships are being purchased to expand sealift
capabilities.  Further, the Army is prepositioning more equipment and
supplies at points around the globe, which means that they will be
closer to potential battlefields.  Significant issues concerning U.S.
mobility capabilities remain unresolved, however.  The problems
experienced in the C-17 program mean that the service life of aircraft
in the current fleet will likely have to be extended.  As the drawdown
of U.S. forces in Europe continues, air bases that are critical to
meeting DOD's stated mobility requirements could become candidates for
closure.  The Army is still years away from improving its rail
deployment capabilities.  The readiness levels of Ready Reserve Force
ships are out of sync with current airlift capabilities and the Army's
current ability to get cargo to the ports.
--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------
 REPORTNUM:  T-NSIAD-94-165
     TITLE:  Strategic Mobility: Serious Problems Remain in U.S. 
             Deployment Capabilities
      DATE:  04/26/94
   SUBJECT:  Strategic mobility forces
             Military airlift operations
             Defense contingency planning
             Combat readiness
             Federal agency reorganization
             Defense capabilities
             Marine transportation operations
             Military vessels
             Mobilization
             Military aircraft
IDENTIFIER:  C-17 Aircraft
             Ready Reserve Force
             DOD Bottom-Up Review
             DOD Mobility Requirements Study
             KC-10 Aircraft
             KC-135 Aircraft
             C-12 Aircraft
             C-141 Aircraft
             C-5 Aircraft
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