Better methods to deliver and disseminate cargo are necessary to fully exploit the capabilities of future intratheater airlifters. The army's and air force renewed emphasis on mobility will require greater productivity by transportation resources to achieve national objectives. The necessitates a more thoroughly-integrated transportation network. Advanced technolgies, materials, and innovative engineering ideas can be exploited aboard intratheater airlifters--where supplier meets user--to facilitate the delivery of supplied. This proposal outlines an approach to identify promising technologies and materials, and develop innovative ideas. This will be accomplished by researching to uncover candidate technologies/materials/ideas, and exercising effectiveness analysis to model the new capabilities and compare benefits. The approach emphasizes army a well as air force input to more fully identify the key issues in intratheater airlift interoperability. Successful completion of Phase I objectives will organize and construct the approach to develop effective methods of cargo transfer between air force intratheater airlift and army transportation assets. Phase II will implement this approach and accomplish these goals.
