The ability of the United States military to intervene in crisis situations around the world depends on its strategic airlift. The big, ungainly C-5As, C-141s, C-17s, and C-130s of the Air Mobility Command deliver the paratroopers, marines, and special forces units into any trouble spot. The current fleet of transports (approximately 83 C-5s, 250 C-141s, and 15 C- 17s) is spread out at bases around the world.

These aircraft have always been committed in an environment where the Americans have established and maintained air superiority Until now, the big transports have been able to operate unimpaired by enemy fighters or air defenses. However, the first enemy that figures out how to get at these transports may well be able to throw any deployment off track. The C-17 Defensive Systems Study conducted a 54-day simulated airlift by the C-17 fleet into forward airfields, both in Europe and in Southwest Asia, during a simulated war. The study found that, against an aggressive enemy 59.4 transports would be lost in Europe and 37.4 in Asia. Since that is more than the C-17 fleet, the shortfall would be carried by C-130s and C-141s.

The loss of 60 aircraft would amount to almost 17% of the airlift capability and probably stop airflow. Certainly however the loss of six or seven big transports would cause the United States to start flying into less dangerous and more distant airfields. In either case, the stoppage or redirection of the airflow would effectively negate the United States' ability to intervene quickly in a foreign crisis.

Defensive measures are not difficult. They include everything from chaff dispensers to arming the big transports. The degree of selfprotection is dependent upon the threat level and the cost. However, certainly something should be done before the transports become easy kills for a smart and aggressive enemy.

Battle Briefs

USN SEALs
The Prettiest Uniform
The M-198
The Armed Transport
The Great Scud Hunt