Projecting and sustaining US forces in distant anti-access or area-denial environments and defeating anti-access or area denial threats is one of the DoD's six key operational goals. The Department of Defense (DoD) in its Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) has concluded that the "anti-access" threat-the complex mix of political, geographic, and military factors that could prevent or delay US forces from deploying to a combat theater- is the dominant strategic challenge confronting future US power projection operations in future conflicts, Particularly Asia. This problem of access directly impinges on our force deployment, employment and sustainment timelines as well as limits our options. The changing nature of combat dictates significant revision to the method and means of conducting operations. This paper will look at the changing strategic and operational environment and concepts that drive the need to begin development of a Joint Heavy Lift aircraft.
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