Page 37 - ADT SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022 Online Magazine

CHARGING  COLUMN

INTO THE JEFF PIKE,

HEAD OF
FUTURE AEROSPACE
& DEFENSE
STRATEGIC
PROGRAMMES
& INITIATIVES

We have seen the electrification of cars and public transport take location, there is a large financial cost to bear as
center stage as consumers and governments tackle carbon emis- well. In the Afghanistan war a gallon of fuel cost
sions. But the military needs to play its part. The Pentagon, for the military about $400 by the time it arrived
example, is the biggest consumer of fossil fuels in the world accord- at the base—a costly problem that needs to
ing to some sources. The benefits of an electric transition for the be addressed.
defense sector doesn’t just boil down to a reduced carbon footprint.
They could also save money and, more importantly, increase opera- THE FLAWS IN FOSSIL FUELS
tional capability and perhaps save lives as well by going electric on
the front line. Unfortunately, there are obstacles—limited range, cost Unfortunately, the drawbacks of using fossil fuels
and lacking battery technology—hindering widespread electrifica- don’t just stop here; they can incur a human cost
tion of vehicles themselves, but there are secondary applications too. The large logistics footprint of a military
to be realized in the immediate future. operation increases the vulnerability of a base.
Transporting and storing the fuel alone makes
Military conflicts rely on logistics—to transport equipment, to move convoys and bases vulnerable to attack. The
personnel to remote bases, and to deliver essential supplies to keep convoy and broader logistics support machine
them going. The efficiency of the logistics operation is crucial to also needs security, feeding, accommodation
determining the success of the campaign. Fossil fuels currently play and support. In the Afghanistan war there was
a key role. Gas guzzling military vehicles can get as little as 0.6 mpg. almost one casualty for every 24 fuel resupply
Fuel consumption on this scale obviously has extreme environmental convoys. Scale this up with the thousands of
costs. But with the added task of transporting the fuel to the remote fuel convoys used in long-term conflicts and the
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022 | 37