It’s Time to Invest: Enhancing Current and Future U.S. Air Force Airlift

U.S. Air Force airlift stands as the foundation for any successful military operation, whether in times of peace or war. After decades of hard use, the current airlift enterprise is small, old, and increasingly stretched too thin amidst surging demand. Emerging operational concepts, the sheer expanse of the Indo-Pacific theater, and continued high demand elsewhere around the globe places greater stress on this strained mission. The Department of War and the Air Force must expand and sustain the capacities and readiness of the airlift system. This isn’t a quick fix. It will require years of committed investment in personnel, hardware, and the broader mobility ecosystem.