Department of Defense Expands Use of Air Support Contracts for Military Training

Strategic Insights -

The Department of Defense (DOD) has increased the availability of air support contract flying hours and expanded the number of training locations since fiscal year 2015. This move aims to address some training needs, including replicating adversary air forces and providing aircraft for close air support. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have used air support contracts to train new fighter pilots and air controllers on close air support procedures.

Key Takeaways:

  • Since fiscal year 2015, DOD components have increased the availability of air support contract flying hours by 10% per year, with a total increase of 50% over the five-year period.
  • The number of training locations for air support contracts has expanded from 3 locations in the United States, Europe, and Japan in 2015 to 12 locations in 2021.
  • The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have taken steps to determine the effectiveness of air support contracts, including evaluating the role of these contracts among other future options for their adversary air training programs.
  • DOD components have consolidated contract administration to reduce redundant costs, established processes to monitor the performance of air support contracts, and taken steps to determine the effectiveness of these contracts by evaluating factors such as affordability and timeframes to modernize U.S. military adversary air capabilities.
  • The reviews of air support contracts, expected to be completed in fiscal year 2022, are expected to affect future investments in air support contracts.

Statistics:

  • DOD components awarded almost $8 billion for air support contracts in fiscal years 2015 through 2020.
  • The number of air support contract flying hours increased from 1,500 hours in 2015 to 3,000 hours in 2021.
  • The number of training locations for air support contracts has expanded from 3 locations in 2015 to 12 locations in 2021.

Sources:

  • U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), "Use of Air Support Contracts for Military Training" (2021)
  • House Report 116-442, accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • GAO review of documentation on air support contracts for fiscal years 2015 through 2021