combatreform.org/AIR_MECH_STRIKE

1. 101st Spearhead Force; Deployable Combat Power
Disproportionate to its Size: 18 x C-17 and 6 x C-5 Sorties
II
18 Armored Gun Systems and Tracers, 35
MTVLs in designated Delta Weapons
I
Company transports 1 of 2 Air Assault
2 A2C2S Infantry Battalions under armor
HHC
I
DEPLOYABILITY:
I 15 x C-17s each with four AGS light
16 AH-64D Plus tanks/MTVL-Tracers and up to 54
Soldiers
+
I 4 x C-17s each with 198 Soldiers *
17 UH-60
armed ESSS 2 x C-17s for C4I and more supplies
3 UH-60
MEDEVAC
I
DEPLOYABILITY: 6 C-5 sorties for
helos and 16 C-17 Sorties for 1400
Soldiers and 45 TAFVs
*NOTE: C-17s use palletized seating to fly 198 Soldiers. Under this
plan, 101st Division would have 42-58 AGS + 42-90 MTVL/TRACER. DAM 1 August, 2004

2. Army Light Forces should be equipped to cope with increased lethality of
non-linear, close combats.
Example of how a different equipment mix can place more potent combat
power maneuver on land!
Today’s Major Ground Combat Systems Potential New Mix for Division Ready Brigade
Only in the 82nd DRB in 82nd or Spearhead Force in 101st
90 x C-17 sorties to airland 7,000 tons; 22 x C-17 Sorties to airdrop or airland:
needs friendly held airfield for IRC •2 Airborne or Air Assault Infantry BNs (1400
•3 Airborne Infantry BNs (2100 Soldiers) Soldiers) that can move at 60 mph swim
that walk at 1-4 mph vulnerable to across lakes/rivers, under armor protection
roadside bombs, RPGs, AKMs, mortars, via Delta Weapons Companies with:
artillery, TBMs, WMD •18 Armored Gun Systems
•105mm Howitzer Battery (exposed)
VS.
•37 MTVL or Tracer Variants that carry
•10 TOW missile systems on HMMWVs infantry with weeks of supplies and:
(exposed) •20 autocannons shoot-on-move
plus 12 x C-17 Sorties to airland •20 TOW missile systems (protected)
Immediate Ready Company (IRC):
• 6 x 120mm mortars (protected)
•9 M1A1 Abrams Tanks (can’t swim)
If helicopters are included add 18 C-17 or 6
•3 M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles (can’t
C-5 airland sorties for
swim)
•20 UH-60 Blackhawks + 16 AH-64D Apaches
•NO overhead air cover or 3D air assault
capabilities DAM 1 August, 2004

3. Cost Estimates for Equipping XVIII Airborne Corps with
Tracked COTS AFVs
•Depending on which package is chosen, the 3 Brigades of the 101st
Division could have 42-58 AGS + 42-90 MTVL/TRACER to fully transform
them to have all-terrain, armored mobility and shock action capabilities.
This suggests spending in the range of between $143 million and $240
million.
•If similar packages are provided to the 82nd and the 10th Mountain
Divisions, the total equipment costs would range between $429 million
and $720 million. Add support costs to the equipment and the totals
should not exceed $1 billion dollars or the cost of 1 Stryker Brigade.
Stryker is not helicopter or airdrop capable to assist XVIII Airborne
Corps in their forced-entry missions, anyway. Cost estimates based on:
$400,000 for MTVL
$3.5 million for AGS depending on 105 or 120mm variant
$2.2 million for TRACER variant or MTVL with Bradley type Turret
•Comparison with Stryker Cost: keep in mind that these TAFVs already exist, use
parts already in Army supply system and are Army certified for air transport and
do not need to be developed as is the case, for instance with Stryker-MGS
DAM 1 August, 2004