Air Force Energy Security

The price of crude oil recently soared past $115 per barrel, resulting in the most expensive gasoline prices ever and renewing the debate over America's insatiable demand for energy. Airpower provided by the United States Air Force (USAF) uniquely depends on high density liquid fuels to deliver the flexible, asymmetric advantages of rapid mobility and global power. In fact, the USAF is the largest government consumer of energy and spends more than $5.8B annually on 2.6B gallons of aviation fuel, comprising 82% of its energy budget. Furthermore, every $10 increase per barrel of oil costs the Air Force an additional $600M annually, as reflected by the $2.1B growth of the FY09 budget to account for rising fuel costs. The eventual price for expensive energy in our budget constrained environment has been reduced flight training hours and fewer funds to invest in the recapitalization of an aging aircraft fleet, both of which degrade the service's combat capability. In short, our national and military dependence on oil is a strategic center of gravity which can be exploited by our adversaries and will continue to be a national problem as this increasingly limited resource becomes more expensive to discover, secure, and produce. As we move forward into the 21st century, the interdependence of energy, the economy, and national security will be intertwined and are a great cause for concern. Now is the time for investment in a diverse portfolio of renewable and domestic energy sources. The USAF recognized the vulnerability caused by its energy consumption and has established an aggressive energy strategy to reduce demand, increase supply, and develop a lasting culture of energy awareness. The Air Force is reducing unnecessary weight from daily air mobility training sorties and investing in revolutionary engine and aerodynamic technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce demand.