Military Logistics
Military Logistics
Logistics—the transfer of personnel and materiel from one location to another, as well as the maintenance of that materiel—is essential for a military to be able to support an ongoing deployment or respond effectively to emergent threats. RAND has long provided guidance and effective solutions to military supply and logistics decisionmakers, resulting in significant savings, improved readiness and combat support, and unit flexibility.
Explore RAND’s Work on this Topic
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Research
Mar 25, 2026
Achieving Combat Sortie Generation Proficiency in the Air Force: An Examination of Goals, Gaps, Barriers, and Solutions
The authors present their analysis of combat sortie generation proficiency as a step toward defining a comprehensive training program for the U.S. Air Force. The analysis covers threat demands, goals, existing gaps, and training needs.
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Mar 9, 2026
Analytic Capabilities to Support Logistics Analyses
This publication highlights eight analytic tools developed by RAND Project AIR FORCE that the U.S. Air Force can use to explore logistics challenges in requirements determination, storage and prepositioning, transportation, and logistics support.
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Research Summary
Jan 29, 2026
Improving Interoperability with Allies and Partners: Aircraft Maintenance and Base Operating Support
The U.S. Air Force must generate and sustain airpower from dispersed, partner-owned locations. This brief discusses interoperability not as an end state but as a spectrum of cooperation that is tailored to requirements, standards, and capabilities.
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Research
Jan 15, 2026
A Comparative Analysis of Choices and Trade-Offs in U.S. Department of Defense and People’s Liberation Army Military Research, Development, and Acquisition Programs: Theory, Method, and Experimental Design
This report summarizes the theory, method, and design driving a comparative assessment of programmatic choices made within the research, development, and acquisition programs of the U.S. Department of Defense and China’s People’s Liberation Army.
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Research
Dec 30, 2025
Supply Chain Uncertainty and Responses: The Case of Ship Bromination Systems
The authors discuss where the supply chain for bromination systems might be vulnerable and identify solutions to potential disruptions. They also examine potentially analogous cases among commodities generated within the defense industrial base.
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Commentary
Oct 10, 2025
Ukraine's Drone-Inflicted 'Oil Sanctions' Will Impact More Than Russia's War Finances
Vladimir Putin relies heavily on corruption and patronage, with oil and gas serving as key revenue streams. Disrupting the flow could force Putin to choose between sustaining the war and maintaining the payouts that secure his political backing—though such an economic squeeze would take some time.
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Research
Sep 10, 2025
Improving Partner Interoperability for U.S. Air Forces in Europe: Base Operating Support and Airfield Recovery
U.S. Air Forces in Europe is pursuing greater interoperability with European partners. The authors reviewed policy and interviewed experts and recommend changes to overcome technical and institutional obstacles to base operating support interoperability.
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Research
Sep 10, 2025
Improving Partner Interoperability for U.S. Air Forces in Europe: Aircraft Maintenance and Cross-Servicing
U.S. Air Forces in Europe is pursuing greater interoperability with its European partners. The authors review policy and interview experts, finding both progress and persistent obstacles on F-35 and F-16 efforts.
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Commentary
Jun 23, 2025
A Swarm at Sea: Supplying Troops with On-Demand Autonomous Watercraft
Using low-cost, rapidly built, small autonomous surface vessels to deliver supplies would be a less vulnerable and more scalable method than relying on large, mostly unarmed, civilian-crewed ships. This approach could provide advanced logistics that are difficult for U.S. adversaries to counter.
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Research
Jun 5, 2025
Sustaining U.S. Army Operations in the Indo-Pacific: Potential Roles of Allies and Partners
Research shows that logistics and sustainment shortfalls could hamper U.S. Army operational success in the Indo-Pacific. In this report, the authors assess how allies and partners could support key military logistics and sustainment activities.
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Research
May 29, 2025
A Framework for Examining Global Posture to Enable Agile and Responsive Operations
RAND researchers developed a framework to help the U.S. Air Force evaluate prepositioning strategies for critical assets. Decisionmakers can use this framework to guide posture decisions using specific requirements, constraints, and priorities.
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Tool
May 28, 2025
Theater Air Base Resiliency Optimization Model (TAB-ROM): Analyst Guide for Version 2.0
This guide helps analysts use the RAND-developed Theater Air Base Resiliency Optimization Model (TAB-ROM) tool, version 2.0, which identifies the most cost-effective mitigation options to consider in the event of a missile attack on an air base.