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(II) makes any recommendations
the Comptroller General considers ad-
visable for improvements to the meth-
odology.
(D) MODIFICATION OF METHODOLOGY.—Not
later than 30 days after receipt of the report
under subparagraph (C), the federally funded re-
search and development center shall—
(i) modify the methodology in order to
address flaws or weaknesses identified by
the Comptroller General in the report and
to improve the methodology in accordance
with the recommendations, if any, made by
the Comptroller General; and
(ii) submit to the congressional defense
committees a report that—
(I) describes the modifications of
the methodology made by the federally
funded research and development cen-
ter; and
(II) if the federally funded re-
search and development center does not
improve the methodology in accordance
with any particular recommendation
of the Comptroller General, sets forth a
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description and explanation of the rea-
sons for such action.
(3) UTILIZATION
OF
OTHER
STUDIES.—The
study shall build upon the results of the recent Mobil-
ity Capabilities Studies of the Department of Defense,
the on-going Intratheater Airlift Fleet Mix Analysis,
and other appropriate studies and analyses. The
study should also include any results reached on the
modified C–5A aircraft configured as part of the Reli-
ability Enhancement and Re-engining Program
(RERP) configuration, as specified in section 132 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136; 117 Stat. 1411).
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) shall
address the following:
(1) The state of the current intertheater airlift
fleet of the Air Force, including the extent to which
the increased use of heavy airlift aircraft in Oper-
ation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom,
and other ongoing operations is affecting the aging of
the aircraft of that fleet.
(2) The adequacy of the current intertheater air-
lift force, including whether or not the current target
number of 301 airframes for the Air Force heavy lift
aircraft fleet will be sufficient to support future expe-
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ditionary combat and non-combat missions as well as
domestic and training mission demands consistent
with the requirements of the National Military Strat-
egy.
(3) The optimal mix of C–5 aircraft and C–17
aircraft for the intertheater airlift fleet of the Air
Force, and any appropriate mix of C–5 aircraft and
C–17 aircraft for intratheater airlift missions, includ-
ing an assessment of the following:
(A) The cost advantages and disadvantages
of modernizing the C–5 aircraft fleet when com-
pared with procuring new C–17 aircraft, which
assessment shall be performed in concert with the
Cost Analysis Improvement Group and be based
on program life cycle cost estimates for the re-
spective aircraft.
(B) The military capability of the C–5 air-
craft and the C–17 aircraft, including number of
lifetime flight hours, cargo and passenger car-
rying capabilities, and mission capable rates for
such airframes. In the case of assumptions for
the C–5 aircraft, and any assumptions made for
the mission capable rates of the C–17 aircraft,
sensitivity analyses shall also be conducted to
test assumptions. The military capability study
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for the C–5 aircraft shall also include an assess-
ment of the mission capable rates after each of
the following:
(i) Successful completion of the Avi-
onics Modernization Program (AMP) and
the Reliability Enhancement and Re-
engining Program (RERP).
(ii) Partially successful completion of
the Avionics Modernization Program and
the Reliability Enhancement and Re-
engining Program, with partially successful
completion of either such program being
considered the point at which the continued
execution of such program is no longer sup-
ported by cost-benefit analysis.
(C) The tactical capabilities of strategic air-
lift aircraft, the potential increase in use of stra-
tegic airlift aircraft for tactical missions, and
the value of such capabilities to tactical oper-
ations.
(D) The value of having more than one type
of aircraft in the strategic airlift fleet, and the
potential need to pursue a replacement aircraft
for the C–5 aircraft that is larger than the C–
17 aircraft.
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(4) The means by which the Air Force was able
to restart the production line for the C–5 aircraft
after having closed the line for several years, and the
actions to be taken to ensure the production line for
the C–17 aircraft could be restarted if necessary,
including—
(A) an analysis of the costs of closing and
re-opening the production line for the C–5 air-
craft; and
(B) an assessment of the costs of closing and
re-opening the production line for the C–17 air-
craft on a similar basis.
(5) The financial effects of retiring, upgrading
and maintaining, or continuing current operations of
the C–5A aircraft fleet on procurement decisions re-
lating to the C–17 aircraft.
(6) The impact that increasing the role and use
of strategic airlift aircraft in intratheater operations
will have on the current target number for strategic
airlift aircraft of 301 airframes, including an anal-
ysis of the following:
(A) The appropriateness of using C–5 air-
craft and C–17 aircraft for intratheater mis-
sions, as well as the efficacy of these aircraft to
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perform 
current 
and 
projected 
future
intratheater missions.
(B) The interplay of existing doctrinal
intratheater airlift aircraft (such as the C–130
aircraft and the future Joint Cargo Aircraft
(JCA)) with an increasing role for C–5 aircraft
and C–17 aircraft in intratheater missions.
(C) The most appropriate and likely mis-
sions for C–5 aircraft and C–17 aircraft in
intratheater operations and the potential for in-
creased requirements in these mission areas.
(D) Any intratheater mission sets best per-
formed by strategic airlift aircraft as opposed to
traditional intratheater airlift aircraft.
(E) Any requirements for increased produc-
tion or longevity of C–5 aircraft and C–17 air-
craft, or for a new strategic airlift aircraft, in
light of the matters analyzed under this para-
graph.
(7) Taking into consideration all applicable fac-
tors, whether or not the replacement of C–5 aircraft
with C–17 aircraft on a one-for-one basis will result
in the retention of a comparable strategic airlift ca-
pability.
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(c) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be
construed to exclude from the study under subsection (a)
consideration of airlift assets other than the C–5 aircraft
or C–17 aircraft that do or may provide intratheater and
intertheater airlift, including the potential that such cur-
rent or future assets may reduce requirements for C–5 air-
craft or C–17 aircraft.
(d) COLLABORATION WITH TRANSCOM.—The federally
funded research and development center selected under sub-
section (a) shall conduct the study required by that sub-
section and make the report required by subsection (e) in
concert with the United States Transportation Command.
(e) REPORT BY FFRDC.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 10,
2009, the federally funded research and development
center selected under subsection (a) shall submit to the
Secretary of Defense, the congressional defense com-
mittees, and the Comptroller General of the United
States a report on the study required by subsection
(a).
(2) REVIEW BY GAO.—Not later than 90 days
after receipt of the report under paragraph (1), the
Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional
defense committee a report on the study conducted
under subsection (a) and the report under paragraph
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(1). The report under this subsection shall include an
analysis of the study under subsection (a) and the re-
port under paragraph (1), including an assessment
by the Comptroller General of the strengths and weak-
nesses of the study and report.
(f) REPORT BY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after
receipt of the report under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on
Armed Services of the House of Representatives a re-
port on the study required by subsection (a).
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report shall include a com-
prehensive discussion of the findings of the study, in-
cluding a particular focus on the following:
(A) A description of lift requirements and
operating profiles for intertheater airlift aircraft
required to meet the National Military Strategy,
including assumptions regarding:
(i) Current and future military combat
and support missions.
(ii) The planned force structure growth
of the Army and the Marine Corps.