Joint Force Air Force Analysis

Since appearance of first aircraft its first use was determined as transportation vehicle that can provide variety of options such as materiel or personnel deployment in any direction and any area on the globe. This ability was saved and explored until our days. Thus, one of the key characteristic of the U.S. Air Force became its airlift capability. Saying that, the Air Force became essential element in joint military operation supporting one of the joint functions such as sustainment. Sustainment gives necessary ability to joint forces to maintain and prolong operations until mission accomplished. Moreover, the ability of the Air Force to provide by air material and personnel in the theater of military actions gives to Joint Force Command (JFC) flexibility and the ability to extend operational reach. It has become an
The military operations “Desert storm” proved the importance of airlift capabilities in supporting sustainment joint function. During “Desert storm” military operation that is characterized in formation of a coalition of twenty-eight countries lead by the United States where the U.S. aircrafts moved more than 543,548 tons of cargo in operational area, which allow coalition forces to grow sufficient military strength in order to maintain operational pace of actions against Iraqi forces. Cristopher Bolkcom, analyst in National Defense Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division mention in his CRS Report for Congress that “the ability to project military power over great distances is a central tenet of the United States national military strategy and massive military buildup before Operation Desert Storm (the 1991 war with Iraq) highlighted the value of strategic airlift.” Moreover, The Commander of Coalition Forces General Norman Schwarzkopf stressed that the operation “Desert Storm” was “the logistical