Why Should We Care Whether America Has Enough Airlift? | with General Mike Minihan

Retired General Mike Minihan, former commander of Air Mobility Command and deputy commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, joins Jim and Ray to talk about how America’s alarming shortfall in military airlift could affect deterrence and readiness in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

General Minihan describes logistics as "the offensive line of a [American] football team"--rarely getting the glory but essential to success. He emphasizes that mobility is "the most relied upon force in the history of warfare" and particularly crucial in the Indo-Pacific region, where vast distances and water create unique challenges compared to Europe's more accessible infrastructure.

"Mobility is the meaningful maneuver that can cross the tyranny of distance and the tyranny of water," Minihan explains, highlighting how air mobility enables the joint force to reach positions of advantage in meaningful timeframes.

The conversation turns to Minihan's famous 2022 memo warning that the U.S. was "not ready to fight and win inside the first island chain" and needed to prepare for potential conflict by 2025. Despite the controversy it generated, Minihan stands by his assessment, explaining it was intended to drive urgent action and focus his command on Pacific readiness.

"I don't regret it," Minihan states, though he acknowledges the turbulence it caused. "I learned I was right."

Minihan identifies several critical areas requiring immediate attention:

1. Communication Systems: Over 90% of the air mobility fleet lacks adequate secure beyond-line-of-sight communications. Commercial airliners often have better connectivity than military aircraft.
2. Next-Generation Systems: The Air Force needs to conceptualize air refueling and airlift as systems rather than individual platforms, potentially including stealth-like tankers for forward operations and diversified airlift capabilities.
3. Procurement Reform: The current acquisition system is fundamentally broken. "Our major producers of American capabilities can no longer deliver on time, at cost," Minihan asserts.

Minihan calls for "bold, unapologetic, urgent action" rather than more studies or reorganizations. He advocates for:

• Clear, precise language about deterring and defeating China, rather than vague terms like "great power competition"
• Robust planning focused on immediate readiness
• Streamlining the acquisition process to work with innovative companies beyond traditional prime contractors
• Ensuring the warfighter's voice is the "loudest in the room"

"We should never put the president in a position where they are constrained by not having a military that's ready to decisively defeat," Minihan emphasizes.

To allies in the Indo-Pacific, Minihan offers reassurance that military-to-military relationships remain strong and stable despite political fluctuations.

While acknowledging improvements in readiness, integration, and agility, Minihan stresses the need to "continue to expand the advantage" through rigorous exercises and close cooperation with partners and allies.

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