Framework for Augmenting Current Fleet with Commercially Available Assets for Logistics Support in Contested Environment

Abstract

China believes logistics in the contested environment is an Achilles’s heel for the U.S. Navy. It is therefore critical that we explore ways to develop capabilities to replenish potential combating forces through Next Generation Logistics Ships (NGLSs). The objective in this research is to study and analyze options for rearming, refueling, and resupplying in the contested and distributed environment. The framework created is flexible in terms of the scenarios. Feedback from subject matter experts (SMEs) helped us gain insight into the complexity of the problem and its vast scope. We developed mathematical models based on the scenarios approved by the sponsor. The sponsor did not wish us to model an objective of minimizing costs or the number of ships required to deliver commodities within a certain deadline or under a certain schedule. Measuring the number of deliveries required in a scenario supplied by SMEs allowed us to determine a mix of NGLS vessels without cost or deadline data. We would like to point out that the number of deliveries needed by vessels of each type, as described in the report, can be interpreted in many ways, in terms of the number of ships required. The summary of our results and analysis suggests certain recommendations.