The future of fuel storage in defense

We’ve released an authoritative white paper for POL (Petroleum, Oils & Lubricants)  storage in defense operations.

It addresses critical current and future issues, presenting practical solutions anchored in our experience in forward base fuel logistics.

This detailed study reflects the structural evolution of United States defense in the 21st Century. The nature of security and even the concept of ‘the front’ has changed forever. Today, boots on the ground don’t walk, they ride, becoming conventional infantry only at critical points.. That requires new thinking for flexible refueling.

Forces still rely on stationary fueling assets in a mobile environment. This technology is a remnant of a static supply chain. For decades, 210,000-gallon fuel bladders have been regarded as ‘plug and play’ because they interconnect to create a fuel system with relative ease. But it can take 5-days to install and fill a single bag, which no longer meets the needs of rapid deployment and the realities of modern field support. The military requires more resilient, mobile fuel provisions – and more accurate data for efficient mission planning.

We explain the benefits and limitations of a largely outmoded fuel supply system and examine how todays operations  will need greater flexibility and mobility to keep pace with different demands. We look at the suitability of the existing technology in the dynamic environment the DoD operates in, and identify innovative alternatives that are ready to serve the US armed forces at each stage of deployment.

The insightful paper includes side-by-side appraisals of traditional and new storage technology, plus detailed cost comparisons for different solutions – and is available free to, download here…