Patriot deployment highlights critical air transport challenges
The Patriot anti-aircraft system is designed for air transport of all its components. Deploying a battalion to a volatile region highlights the serious challenges of global air transport. How many planes are needed to transport a Patriot battalion?
The issue concerning the strategic mobility of the Patriot system was reported by Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of USINDOPACOM (U.S. Indo-Pacific Command – responsible for the Indo-Pacific region).
Admiral Paparo described a situation where the American campaign against the Houthis required transporting a battalion of the Patriot anti-aircraft system to the Middle East.
This battalion consists of four batteries, each including six to eight launchers, as well as a radar and a battle management module ECS. Transporting these forces to the Middle East required 73 flights by C-17 transport aircraft. The United States has about 220 of these planes, and their production has already ended.
Too few planes and ships
According to Admiral Paparo, moving weapons over long distances by air requires not only transport planes but also, among other things, an air tanker fleet, which he believes the United States has in insufficient numbers.
The problem also extends to maritime transport. The American commander noted that the current fleet of transport ships available to the U.S. armed forces can only cover 60 percent of the demand for supplies.
The gap is temporarily filled by engaging civilian carriers. However, this is not a permanent solution, as in the event of war, the Pentagon will rely on its own resources. Meanwhile, 17 military supply ships stand idle due to a lack of crews.
Problem with replenishing supplies
The campaign against the Houthis, waged in the operational area of another command, USCENTCOM, revealed a rapidly depleting stockpile of various guided missiles. This includes stocks reserved for wartime, which American commanders say are beginning to become outdated due to age.
Replenishing them may prove difficult due to limited production and transportation issues. As noted by Admiral Paparo, logistics, especially in a vast area like the Indo-Pacific, will be a significant challenge for the United States in the event of a conflict with China.
