LONDON, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

In ever changing battlescapes, flexibility and forward thinking are key in order to carry out strategic airlift operations where a speedy response is of paramount importance.

One of the most important aspects of any military operation is to be able to adapt to the combat environment and provide adequate support to troops in the air and on the ground. However, with the battlespace consistently changing, Armed Forces have to adapt faster than ever before.

Talking ahead of Defence IQ's Military Airlift conference in September, Colonel Jennifer Thompson, Chief at the Allied Movement Coordination Centre, NATO SHAPE said: "The combat environment may change, but the basic principles remain the same and what we've experienced over the past few years is that remaining flexible in applying these basic principles is key to any successful airlift support."

"What may seem like a simple application of those principles at the planning phase of an operation often becomes more complex as the mission matures or evolves. So what we need to do is be forward thinking to prepare for such complexities so we're ready for the solution when it is needed. This is especially true for strategic airlift operations where the expectation of a speedy response is very high."

Additionally, Colonel Thompson believes that the future is exciting for military airlift operations as cooperation strengthens in multinational operations to include more countries taking part in strategic airlift operations.

"The challenges for us right now are planning for strategic support to the repositioning of troops and possible drawdown of forces in Afghanistan which will give us a good opportunity to refine the multinational cooperation and that comprehensive approach to involve as many members as possible within our global strategic lift community."

Colonel Jennifer Thompson was talking to Defence IQ ahead of the Military Airlift conference in September. To listen to the full interview, please visit http://www.milairlift.com.

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SOURCE Defence IQ