Best Value Analysis of Tool/Individual Material Readiness List (IMRL) Items for Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) F/A-18 Hornet Squadrons From NAF Atsugi to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan

Abstract

In 2005, a U.S. Japan Security Consultative Committee agreed to shift the Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) homeport from Atsugi Naval Air Station (NAS), Japan, to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni (MCAS Iwakuni), Japan, in 2016. Currently, the 35-mile distance between Atsugi, where the air wing is based, and Yokosuka, where the carrier is docked, does not constitute a significant burden to the supply chain. However, when CVW-5 fixed-wing assets are repositioned to MCAS Iwakuni, it will significantly impact transportation costs due to the additional 542-mile distance to move tool/IMRL assets to the carrier for air-wing embarkation. In the same time frame as the air-wing homeport transition, the composition of the air wing will be evolving to become the Navy's first unit comprising all Hornet-variant jet aircraft. This analysis tried to determine the cost savings that may be involved with consolidation of tool/IMRL outfitting allowances. In addition, MCAS Iwakuni may bring further asset exploitation opportunities because of the Marine Hornet squadrons already based there, whereas Atsugi had no Hornet presence other than CVW-5.