Military Logistics | The Runway

Logistics Importance in Military Operations

Effective logistics are fundamental to military success, impacting resource allocation, strategic advantage, and operational tempo. This knowledge is crucial for military professionals to enhance readiness, sustainment, and adaptability in diverse operational environments.

Resource Allocation: Effective logistics ensure that troops, weapons, and supplies are distributed optimally to maintain operational readiness and sustain combat operations.
Strategic Advantage: Well-managed logistics can provide a strategic edge by ensuring that resources are available at critical times and locations, enabling faster and more effective responses to enemy actions.
Cost Efficiency: Efficient logistics reduce wastage of resources and financial expenditure, allowing military budgets to be allocated to other critical areas like training and equipment upgrades.
Operational Tempo: Robust logistics support maintains the operational tempo, allowing forces to move and act faster than the adversary, which can be decisive in conflict outcomes.
Sustainment of Forces: Continuous logistical support is essential for the sustainment of deployed forces, ensuring they have the necessary provisions, medical supplies, and ammunition for prolonged operations.
Adaptability: Effective logistics systems enhance the military's adaptability by enabling rapid deployment and support of forces across varied operational environments.
Morale: Reliable supply lines and consistent delivery of essentials like food, water, and medical supplies boost the morale of troops, which is crucial for maintaining combat effectiveness.
Technological Edge: Advanced logistics technologies such as automated supply chains and real-time tracking systems can significantly enhance operational capabilities and strategic planning.
Interoperability: Efficient logistics are key for interoperability during joint operations with allied forces, ensuring seamless integration and resource sharing.
Post-Conflict Recovery: Post-conflict logistics are vital for reconstruction and stabilisation efforts, helping to restore order and commence rebuilding processes.

Strategic Influence

Senior military leaders discuss challenges, future sustainment in INDO-PACOM

At the US Sea-Air-Space 2025 Expo, contested logistics and sustainment issues were discussed, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. A move to a “just in case, push supply system” was proposed to better prepare Naval forces, combined with leveraging strategic partnerships.

Military Management

See the US Air Force's 'Franken-bird' F-35 made from wrecked stealth fighters take its first flight

US Air Force has spliced together the fuselage of two damaged F-35 aircraft to form one operational aircraft. Aside from the significant cost-benefit, this repair developed tooling, equipment, techniques, and knowledge for future use.

Air & Space Power

Battle-ready medical drones to join the ranks

A new drone delivery project aims to revolutionise military healthcare logistics. The project will adapt heavy-fuel cargo drones for long-range cold-chain operations, with the potential to solve logistics challenges for the Australian Defence Force.

Strategic Influence

Dutch military adds railway steel to rush troops to NATO’s east flank

The Netherlands Defence Ministry is expanding its fleet of railway wagons to support NATO's eastern flank. The wagons will enable faster deployment of troops and supplies, reducing reliance on commercial providers, enhancing military readiness.

Air & Space Power

Australia boosts stockpile of anti-radar missiles

Australia will acquire additional stocks of the AARGM-ER missiles. The supersonic air-launched missiles will be deployed from Royal Australian Air Force jets, including F/A-18F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, and, in the future, the F-35A.

Strategic Influence

Enabling Logistics in Contested Environments

Emerging technologies are revolutionising logistics in contested environments, focusing on resilient, adaptive systems to ensure supply chain continuity. Understanding these advancements is vital for military professionals to enhance operational effectiveness and maintain supply lines under adversarial conditions.

Technology & Innovation

Army Envisions Legions of Autonomous Logistics Robots to Deliver Supplies

The US Army's initiative to deploy autonomous logistics robots for supply delivery aims to enhance operational efficiency and resilience. This development is critical for military professionals to grasp, as it revolutionises logistics, reduces personnel risk, and ensures sustained support in contested environments.

Technology & Innovation

Pentagon Harnessing Data for Predictive Logistics Planning

The Pentagon's use of data analytics for predictive logistics planning highlights a strategic shift towards leveraging big data for enhanced operational efficiency. Understanding this approach is essential for military professionals, as it can significantly improve resource allocation, readiness, and mission success.

Technology & Innovation

Harnessing AI for Military Logistics

The Pentagon's use of data analytics for predictive logistics planning highlights advancements in operational efficiency and readiness. Understanding this shift is essential for military professionals, as it enhances supply chain resilience, improves mission success rates, and supports strategic decision-making in dynamic environments.

Technology & Innovation

Rocket Cargo is go! Air Force’s experimental resupply program moves closer to the launch pad

The aim is to transport DoD materiel from, or through, space to anywhere around the world within ‘tactically responsive timelines’.

Air & Space Power

Marine Corps looks at ocean glider for rapid resupply to fight China

The move comes following challenges in re-supplying troops in isolated islands in the Indo-Pacific region.

Technology & Innovation

Ukraine doesn't have much of a navy, but it's found a way to hunt down the 'weakest links' in Russia's critical sea supply lanes, UK intel says

Ukraine uses USVs to challenge Russian ships in the Black Sea, providing a cost-effective advantage and straining Russian defences.

Strategic Influence

U.S. Forces Validate Ship-to-Shore Logistics Capability at Talisman Sabre 23

US and Australian forces constructed a three-mile-long pipeline to a remote Weipa, a remote Australian town, overcoming unique challenges.

Strategic Influence

Army readies for record-setting logistics exercise in Pacific

The US Army will test its logistics capabilities during the biennial Australian exercise Talisman Sabre by quadrupling the amount of equipment moved across challenging terrain and over long distances.

Strategic Influence

SPECIAL REPORT: U.S. Begins Forging Rare Earth Supply Chain

The U.S. wants to secure a domestic rare earth supply chain to reduce its vulnerability to China's supply chain control. China controls almost 60% of rare earth mining operations, over 85% of processing capacity, and more than 90% of permanent magnet production.

Strategic Influence

U.S., Allies Work to Supply Ukraine Air Defense Needs

Ukraine’s current priority is to acquire better air defence capabilities as Ukraine tries to stop Russian from further attacking and damaging civilian infrastructure.

Technology & Innovation

Northrop boosts sovereign supply chain with Aussie supplier for F-35s

Key components for the F-35 central fuselage will be manufactured in Australia—the Australian government supports local production for strategic and financial reasons.

U.S. pledges largest Ukraine arms delivery yet with $1 billion more in rockets and other weapons

The USA leadership will enhance Ukrainian capability by providing more rockets, ammunition and other arms direct from current stocks in a new US $1 billion arms package.

Military Management

Global supply chain crisis could last another two years, warn experts

This Dec 21 Guardian article argues that the global supply chain crisis will take two years to overcome bottlenecks.

Technology & Innovation

Privatising the sky: drone delivery promises comfort and speed, but at a cost to workers and communities

Drone delivery is a disruptive technology that is likely to impact the nature of work, privacy, and the environment's management.