Expanding Fixed-Wing Aircraft Capability in U.S. Army Aviation Operations

<p>The large battlespace in Iraq and Afghanistan has exposed an existing time and distance intra-theater airlift gap within the Department of Defense that cannot be met with Army tactical helicopters like the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Blackhawk or larger Air Force cargo airplanes like the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III. This study explores the logic behind expanding Army fixed-wing aircraft roles and missions. Acquiring integrating and operating a larger number of C-27J Spartan cargo airplanes to assume or supplement existing utility and cargo helicopter missions is a more capable flexible efficient and economical solution to meeting Army intra-theater airlift mission requirements. The thesis reviews what has historically prevented the Army from acquiring and employing a larger amount of cargo airplanes. The thesis then explains why it is necessary for the Army to increase airlift capacity to better support a more modular and expeditionary ground force while conducting Full Spectrum Operations in the current and future Contemporary Operating Environment. The thesis provides justification as to why the Army should employ a greater percentage of cargo airplanes as opposed to utility or cargo helicopters with respect to capability flexibility efficiency and cost. The thesis concludes with a recommendation to better balance the Army's fixed-wing and rotary-wing fleet that meets the needs of the Interim and Future Force.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>