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Readiness of U.S. Air Forces in Europe--Selected Aspects and Issues

LCD-78-430A Published: Feb 16, 1979. Publicly Released: Feb 16, 1979.
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Highlights

GAO made a review of the readiness of the U.S. Air Forces located in Europe from September 1977 to April 1978. Matters which need to be further addressed to improve the effectiveness and readiness of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) are discussed. Previously, GAO reported to Congress in 1973 that the U.S. Air Forces in Europe were not fully ready due to such factors as shortages of war reserve materiels and personnel and inadequate training facilities. In addition, information in readiness reports to the Joint Chiefs of Staff was sometimes inaccurate and did not include all pertinent readiness factors. Some problems, such as personnel shortages, have been alleviated. On the other hand, increases in the overall number of Soviet and Warsaw Pact aircraft, along with improvements in their range and payload, have made air bases and materiel stockpiles in Europe more vulnerable to attack with less warning time.

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Air defense systemsAir Force personnelArmed forces abroadMilitary materielStrategic forcesTactical air forcesWarning systemsAircraftMilitary forcesInternational organizations