Choppers Grounded: The Supply-Demand Problem

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Choppers Grounded: The Supply-Demand Problem

G. M. Mullen

Colonel G. Michael Mullen focuses in this essay on the availability of a single high technology weapon system-the UH-60 utility helicopter. In an opening scenario depicting a war in Europe in the 1990s, he shows how shortages of this helicopter might conceivably occur-and severe consequences such shortages might mean for the overall warfighting effort. Colonel Mullen argues that current production figures for this helicopter are too low, and that US industrial capability to produce additional aircraft will be insufficient to meet wartime demands. The repair and maintenance needs of these sophisticated machines will be aggravated by combat attrition. The helicopter shortage will be especially damaging because three Services have adopted the highly versatile UH-60 to perform various critical missions. The largest user, the army, has integrated helicopter support into virtually all its tactical planning: the Navy use it to protect the fleet against enemy submarines: and the Air Force uses the UH-60 for search and rescue. The author argues further that additional wartime demand will come from our Allies, who will want their own UH-60s or will request US helicopter support missions-a demand for which the United States has not adequately planned. To meet such demands, the author proposes ways to increase inventories, readiness, and industrial production capability. The answer requires careful planning because increased industrial surge depends on adequate tooling, and skilled manpower-none of which can be created overnight.