Basing Strategies for Air Refueling Forces in Antiaccess/Area-Denial (A2/AD) Environments - Threat from China, Gorilla Ring, Missile Ring, Basing Options, Hardened Bases, Disaggregated Units

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this paper addresses the challenge of basing air refueling forces in regions marked by scarcities of appropriate airfields and powerful antiaccess/area-denial (A2/AD) threats from regional enemies. In such conflicts, the scale of required tanker deployments likely will overwhelm the number of first-class airfields available to accommodate the airliner-based air refueling aircraft in the United States Air Force fleet. Moreover, tankers based in forward areas will be subject to a wide range of enemy attacks on the ground and in the air. Consequently, this study begins by discussing the nature of the threats posed to forward-based air refueling units by modern A2/AD systems and then examines various basing concepts to mitigate those threats. The basing concepts explored are hardening of aircraft shelters and support facilities, disaggregation of refueling units among prepared bases, and agile disaggregation among more austere base infrastructures. The study also includes discussion of the potential value of introducing a midsized "tactical" tanker to the fleet able to operate from airfields substantially shorter and more weakly surfaced than these required by the current fleet of modified airliners. The study concludes by recommending greater focus on agile disaggregation, acquisition of a fleet segment of tactical tankers, and directions for further analysis.

The increasing threat to American air refueling forces from sophisticated antiaccess/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities in the hands of potential enemies has become a matter of concern for defense planners and leaders. An important product of this concern has been an active discussion of the challenge of operating air refueling forces from forward bases under potential or actual attack. Generally, this discussion has explored three forward basing concepts; hardened, disaggregated, and agile. Hardened bases employ reinforced sheltering of aircraft and support facilities to increase their resilience under attack. Disaggregation complicates enemy targeting efforts by operating forces from many smaller bases rather than just a few large ones. Agile basing protects forces by frequently shifting them among a number of bases, thereby "improving survivability and complicating the enemy's targeting."

Given these considerations, this study encapsulates the present state of the discussion over tanker basing and asks whether an updated US strategy should emphasize hardened, disaggregated, or agile concepts. The study begins with a qualitative discussion of the threat posed to air refueling forces by a representative A2/AD system—that of China. It next discusses the operational and logistical characteristics of each basing option, paying particular attention to its ability to underpin the resilience and maximal effectiveness of tanker forces under A2/AD threat. This comparative discussion closes with a brief examination of aircraft options to exploit the strengths and/or mitigate the weaknesses of each basing concept. The study concludes with recommendations for further action by the Air Force and the Department of Defense (DOD).