U.S. Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, delivered the following opening statement at a hearing on mobility aircraft connectivity capabilities, which are crucial for closing logistics chains in the joint fight.
Rep. Kelly’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
I want to welcome you and thank our witnesses.
Today, this Joint Hearing will receive testimony on Mobility Aircraft Relevance and Survivability in a Contested Environment.
These committees are laser-focused on a growing concern. How will the logistics needed get to the joint force in the time required?
Our mobility forces are unmatched in the world and provide a significant advantage over our adversaries. However, unlike in the past, our Mobility Forces will be operating in a contested environment. It is imperative that our forces can communicate across long distances. I believe our ability to move logistics is one thing that keeps our enemies up at night.
Last year, the Mobility Guardian Exercise highlighted a critical issue….. the lack of reliable communication links beyond line of sight with the airlift and air refueling fleet. We always ask commanders to take potential modernization solutions on the road and find out if they work or not. Air Mobility Command did just that. I’d like to hear your thoughts on the lessons learned from that exercise.
Additionally, I’d like to hear our panel’s thoughts on increasing air refueling capacity. INDOPACOM commanders have routinely expressed concerns about the ability of the Joint Force to refuel and operate within the AOR.
Before I yield, I want to thank Gen Minihan and his wife Ashley for their 34 years of remarkable service, and leading the great men and women of Air Mobility Command.
