Air Mobility Plan, 2008 - The Black Vault

Executive Summary
AMC operational support to the Special Operations mission principally involves the C-17 and
KC-135 aircraft. The C-17 was built with night vision goggle-compatible cockpit lighting systems
and modifications are now ongoing to retrofit the C-17 fleet with a night vision-compatible cargo
compartment and exterior lighting. The KC-135 Block 45 modification program will provide the entire
fleet, including special operations air refueling aircraft, with a night vision goggle (NVG)-compatible
cockpit, boom station, and external lighting. The addition of improved defensive systems, real-time
information in the cockpit, and autonomous approach and landing capability will significantly enhance
special operations support in the future.
Projecting and employing US forces involves the establishment of airbases within the area of operations.
The securing, opening, and providing initial airfield and airbase operations is critical to follow-on
forces. This fundamental task falls to the Air Force Contingency Response Groups (CRGs). CRGs
provide a wide range of ACS functional capabilities to include aerial port operations, fuels support,
medical support, mobile C2, air traffic control, ground transportation, intelligence, and explosive
ordnance disposal among others. The Open the Airbase Roadmap indicates future challenges will lie in
identifying manpower and equipment resources necessary to align this capability in newly established
units and codifying “Open the Airbase” concepts into Air Force and Joint Tactics.
Weapon System Roadmaps
Detailed guidance on each specific airframe type can be found in the weapon system roadmaps in
Chapter 5. These roadmaps provide more detailed guidance for the specific airframe type than is
contained in the mission category roadmaps and support the generalized guidance contained in the
various mission category roadmaps. AMMP weapon system plans are useful for guiding operational
programming actions, fleet modernization programs, and acquisition actions by AMC and Air Force
Materiel Command (AFMC) headquarters personnel. The roadmaps published in the AMMP contain
an assessment of airframe capabilities, applicable force structure charts, weapon system specific
deficiencies and solution sets, and a program/modification funding chart.
Several modernization programs are currently being worked on mobility airframes and are
discussed in these roadmaps. Significant ongoing programs include the C-5 Avionics Modernization
Program (AMP) to provide data link capability, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II,
Terrain Awareness and Warning System, and UHF
satellite communications and the C-5 Reliability
Enhancement and Re-engining Program to improve
aircraft reliability, maintainability, and availability.
C-17 programs include Block 17, consisting of NVGfriendly
lighting, airdrop improvements, aerial delivery
system improvements, navigation performance
improvements, and the Formation Flight System. The
C-130 fleet is being modernized with enhancements
to include features to improve maintainability,
reliability, protection, and performance. Additionally,
numerous C-130E/H models have been grounded or
placed under significant flight restrictions due to cracking in the center wings necessitating
replacement of center wing boxes. Tanker aircraft upgrades include avionics modernization
on the KC-10 to ensure worldwide airspace access and KC-135 Aircraft Extension Program
consisting of avionics upgrades, night vision imaging system lighting, aeromedical evacuation
upgrades, and real time information in the cockpit upgrades.
10
Support Roadmaps
Air mobility has thirteen support processes and associated roadmaps that provide a foundation for
the successful accomplishment of all mobility missions. These support process roadmaps range from
Information Operations to Logistics to Force Protection. All support process roadmaps address key
OCT 07