Air Mobility in a Kinetic/Contested Environment with China
TOPIC SPONSOR: AMC/CC
What will be the impact of a kinetic/contested environment with China on Air Mobility? How can Air Mobility plan to operate in this environment?
- Aglubat, Maj. Eric J., "Enhancing C3 for Mobility Aircraft: The Promise and Pitfalls of Starshield," AFGC thesis, 2025, 45 pgs.
- Aglubat notes that in a Great Power Competition with the PRC, air mobility forces will be forced to operate in a contested, degraded, and operationally limited (CDO) battlespace. Currently, these assets lack an enterprise-wide solution for global airborne connectivity, leaving them unable to tie into joint battle networks. To effectively operate and maneuver in this environment, he recommends deploying a hybrid satellite architecture that allows mobility aircraft to utilize both traditional Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) and commercial systems like Starshield, ensuring resilient Command, Control, and Communication (C3).
- Alexander, Maj. Jon Ryan, "The 8,000 Mile Miracle, and Why We Can't Count on It Next Time," ACSC AO 2025.
- Alexander answers this by detailing how a near-peer conflict with China will leverage advanced anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) networks and long-range missiles to severely degrade mobility operations by damaging runways and destroying fuel storage, thereby cutting off traditional fixed-wing aeromedical evacuation (AE) lifelines. To successfully operate in this environment, Alexander argues that the Air Force must prioritize survivability over efficiency by dispersing mobility assets and patient movement centers across a wider array of global bases. Furthermore, he asserts that the AE enterprise must plan to utilize multi-modal capabilities, such as moving patients via fast-moving ships in the Pacific or rail cars in Europe, to reduce the reliance on conventional airlift aircraft that will be at extreme risk.
- Baker, Maj. Kyle W., "Examining the Emergence of the YU-20 Tanker: Countering China's Key to Global Airpower," GCPME thesis, 2024, 48 pgs.
- Caliva, Maj. Anthony M., "Fueling the Fight: The Right Air-to-Air Refueling Fleet for a War with China," GCPME thesis, 2023, 58 pgs.
- Carroll, Lt. Col. Benjamin, "Redistributing Rapid Global Mobility Control: Air Mobility Command & Control for the Future," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2022, 67 pgs.
- Carter, Brandon C., "Refueling the Future: The Coevolution of Aerial Refueling Technology with Air Power Strategy," SAASS thesis, 2023, 135 pgs.
- Cruden, Maj. David S., "Clipping the Dragon's Wing's: Gaining and Maintaining Air Superiority in the South China Sea," GCPME paper, 2020, 50 pgs.
- Egli, Maj. Caleb, "Fueling a Superpower: Reprioritizing the US Air Refueling Fleet for Great Power Competition," ACSC paper, subsequently published in Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs (May 8, 2024).
- Frizzell, Capt. Matthew E., "Strategizing Air Mobility Support in an Operationally Challenging Indo-Pacific Environment," GCPME thesis, 2024, 36 pgs.
- Hall, LCDR Jonathan, "Establishing a New Norm: Airpower in the South China Sea," AF Global College, 2024, 49 pgs.
- Hinkley, Eric W., "Troops-in-Contact: Utilizing the A-10C in Contested South China Sea Airspace," AF Global College, 2024, 36 pgs.
- Lavey, Maj. Brent J., "Is Austere Surgery the New Normal: Adapting Air Force Ground Surgical Teams to Operations in the Western Pacific," GCPME thesis, 2025, 36 pgs.
- Lemmen, Maj. Kurt, "Air Mobility's Untapped Potential to Meet Combat Airpower Requirements during Great Power Competition," GCPME thesis, 2024, 44 pgs.
- Messer, Maj. Jessica et al, "Aviation Fuel Supply Chain in the Pacific: Understanding Limitations and Informing Supply Chain Design Improvements to Enable Successful Air Operations in the Pacific Theater," AF Fellows Paper (St. Louis University), 2023, 35 pgs.
- Montiague, Lt. Col. Raul, "Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Events Can Degrade the Air Force Core Mission Rapid Global Mobility," GCPME, 2020, 43 pgs.
- Nickell, Maj. Ryan J., “War with a Heavyweight: Stealth Fighters and China,” GCPME paper, 2020, 46 pgs.
- Owen, Robert C., "Basing Strategies for Air Refueling Forces in Anti-Access/Area-Denial Environments," Published as an AU Press Fairchild Paper, 2015, 32 pgs.
- Persons, Lt. Col. Eli, "Examining Air Mobility in a US-PRC Theater Conflict Scenario," AWC Strategic Studies Paper (Kenney Airpower Seminar), 2024 42 pgs. Winner of the Air & Space Association Writing Award; Winner of the AWC Global Reach Award
- Smith, Maj. Michael D., "Dynamic Force Employment in the Indo-Pacific: Making a Case for Air Force Special Tactics," Air Force Fellows paper, 2021, 69 pgs.