Future Airship

       The Army Times recently released an article about a new aircraft that would be able to transport more supplies than any other airframe currently in service. The new aircraft is not a plane or a helicopter, but rather an airship. This means it relies on being lighter than air as opposed to aerodynamic lift. The craft is not to be confused with a Blimp (like the “Good Year” Blimp which videos many outdoor sports games) or Zeppelin because it is rigid as opposed to flexible.

            Airships when out of fashion with the military after WWII and the last blimp were decommissioned in 1962. Even before then however, not many aviators wanted to be involved with Blimps during the jet age.

            The new airship is amongst resurgence to older technology mated with modern technology. Many of these resurgent ideas are to save money and are effective when combined with modern computers. The current ship is only 250ft long, and is a testing model for the full sized 450ft Airship. The advantages of airships is cruise time, less limitations on space, lower fuel consumption, massive payloads, travel distance, and they do not require facilities to land. This last fact is especially important in areas which have experienced a natural disaster and are out of range of helicopter support.

            How will this airframe change logistics? The simple answer is making the transport phase of logistics more efficient (generation -> transport -> sustain -> redeploy). This would reduce end costs, and would rapidly increase the speed in which heavy forces could be deployed. Currently the largest airframes in the Air Force the aging C-5 Galaxy can only hold two M1 Abrams tanks, roughly the same weight in cargo, or 270 passengers in the cargo compartment. The new airship will be able to carry significantly more carrying maybe as much as 200 tonnes or possibly as much as 1,000 tonnes.

British Lend Logistical Support to French Military Intervention in Mali

In October of 2012, The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2071 which approved a military response to the growing number of human rights violations in Mali. On January 11^th 2013, France launched military action into Mali in order to stop it from becoming a “terrorist state.” Insurgent groups have been fighting against the Malian government for over a year now but the recent French involvement marks the most significant foreign aid response.  

French soldiers in Mali could number as high as 2,500 in the coming days according to French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. France plans to stay in Mali until order is restored and other countries have been pitching in. On January 29^th 2013, The United Kingdom announced its intention to offer support to the French military with up to 200 troops. The extent of British involvement will be limited to logistical and training support. Defense Secretary Philip Hammond gave the following details on UK involvement. 

1. "Continue to allow the use of one of two C-17 transport planes, which are already flying French equipment to and from Mali, for three months. The RAF has also provided a Sentinel surveillance aircraft."
2. "Allow the US - which has been involved in airlifting French soldiers and equipment to Mali - to operate air refueling flights out of Britain."
3. "Offer a roll-on, roll-off Merchant Navy ferry to help transport equipment to the French force in Mali. It would dock at a port in a West African state to enable the kit to be moved across land to Mali."
4. "Provide £5m to assist in the training of West African forces through two UN funds - £3m directed to Afisma (African-led International Support Mission to Mali) and £2m to support political processes in Mali."  

Although The United Kingdom will play a non-combatant role in this conflict, their support will have numerous benefits. Mali is a land-locked country so supply routes must enter the country by either land or air. It is far less expensive to transport by sea so the British offer to transport equipment via Merchant Navy ferry to the West coast of Africa will greatly reduce expenses and expedite the process. The use of British C-17 transport planes will relieve some of the pressure currently placed on the aircraft flying between France and Mali. The UK has also offered to set up a joint logistics HQ in Mali but so far the French have declined this offer. The UK was not the first nation to offer logistical support to the French Military conflict in Mali but their aid emphasizes that there truly is a global effort to combat terrorism.

-Demosthenes
"All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action."

Picture of the Day

Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) Exercise "Trident Causeway"

SDDC, Fort Story, VA

www.army.mil/SDDC

Chinese Oiler

David Axe, a contributor to the Danger Room reported on January 16th about a new Chinese oiler that could allow the Chinese People's Liberation Navy to extend their sea operations around the globe and specifically the Pacific. The logistical implications are monumental in that this type of vessel could allow China to become a global power with the ability to conduct operations anywhere on the planet. 

The first two sea trials were conducted on the 590-foot-long oilers and they were successful. The upgraded Quandaohu-class oilers were launched last spring and conducted tests with the ships mechanical systems, storage tanks, valves, hoses and other hear for refueling. After nine months of these trials the oilers are cleared for operational use. Most US ships spend years going from launch to trials to commissioning. For those like me that don't know specifically how these oilers work David Axe explains; "To fuel up another ship, the oiler and the receiving vessel must match speeds and close within a few score yards of each other. Crews use special guns to launch lines between the vessels, then use the lines to haul across fuel hoses — all while the ships continue sailing."

China's growing economy, population, and military power(specifically naval power as David Axe mentions China's new aircraft carrier, fighter jets, submarines, and missile guided destroyers) could lead to confrontations in the Pacific theatre between the United States and China over disputed territory, resources or other power grabs. From what I've read it seems to me that China still has a long way to go on the sea to match the US's capabilities. I think our naval monopoly on the sea's will last quite awhile longer...I hope.  

 

-Sasquatch Out-

 

 

Testing 1 2 3

This is a test to make sure I can post to the wall.

Picture of the Day

Picture of the Day

Air Mobility Command Delivers Supplies in support of OEF

www.amc.af.mil

Chinese Airlifter

David Axe at Danger Room recently reported that China has just developed a new operational / strategic airlifter that looks a lot like a C-17, and updated the report with a satellite photo of the plane.  Axe reports that the new Y-20 looks like the C-17 in design (though one should check out the comments for the blog ridiculing his simplicity) and discusses some of the dependencies associated with the development of such a platform.  Particularly, that China’s military industrial complex lacks the requisite technology and would therefore have to buy engines from the Russians.  This advancement can be seen as significant given the association of effective airlift with the ability to be expeditionary, and some of the tensions in the region.

The history of US military logistics accentuates the importance of airlift for a major power that wants to be truly expeditionary.  Arguably, “The Hump” in the CBI theater of WWII, a supply assistance program that had strategic objectives, really constituted the birth of the concept in its most important form.  The commander of final stage of the Hump operation went on to command the Berlin Airlift operation during the Cold War.  Our Air Mobility Command continues to perform major operations, to include relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

China’s bellicosity in her region make this revelation seem perhaps more dangerous / scary than it really should be.  Recent tensions over who has rightful claim to the Spratley Islands has “warmed the waters” in the South China Sea.  Furthermore, recent events reignited tensions between China and Japan over some disputed islands in the East China Sea.  The country has made interesting developments over the past couple of years, to include the purchase of a former Russian aircraft carrier, and revealing a new stealth fighter.  Releasing that it has strategic lift capability certainly complements China’s efforts if she wants to flex her muscles as a regional and potentially global power.