![]() ![]() In 2006, the fuel problem moved to the front burner after commanders in Iraq were quoted in news media asking the Defense Department for help freeing troops from the “tether” of fuel. That required the military to deploy more troops and hardware just to protect the supply lines. The military’s energy dependence turned into a larger-than-expected liability after the invasion of Iraq, when insurgents started blowing up fuel convoys with roadside bombs. It should do so not necessarily out of concern for fuel prices, but because energy demands can significantly alter the course of a military operation, and even increase the chances of failing to accomplish a mission. ![]() The DSB studies also urged the Pentagon to consider how much energy a weapon system requires before military buyers decide to acquire it. But the issue drew attention only when oil prices shot up to $140 a barrel in 2008 and the Pentagon’s fuel bill soared dramatically. ![]() Pentagon officials have been trying to figure this out for years, but have yet to come up with easy answers.ĭuring the past decade, two Defense Science Board studies have criticized the Pentagon for not having reliable methods of measuring what is known as the “fully burdened” cost of fuel, or FBCF. These wildly divergent estimates illustrate the formidable undertaking of calculating precisely the price of military fuel. The Army estimated fuel can cost up to $400 a gallon if the only way to ship it is via helicopters. If troops are in hostile areas, prices can range from $100 to $600 for “in theater” delivery. If it’s transferred in-flight from a refueling airplane to another aircraft, the gas is $42. But that same fuel can cost $13 if it’s shipped by ground to a forward-deployed location, during peacetime. The Defense Logistics Agency buys military fuel for $2.82 per gallon. ![]() That is not the case at the Department of Defense. The average driver knows how much he or she pays for fuel. For most people, answering the question, “How much does it cost to fill up your gas tank?” is a no-brainer. ![]()
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