About this book:

*Lines of Support: Military Logistics, Supply Chains, and Sustaining Modern War* provides an operational-level analysis of how sustainment determines the feasibility and success of 21st-century military campaigns. The book argues that modern war is a contest of sustained industrial and logistical capacity rather than just tactical maneuver. It introduces the concept of the "logistics gradient," explaining how the difficulty of supporting forces increases exponentially with distance, intensity of combat, and adversary interdiction. Using the conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine as primary case studies, the text illustrates that "contested logistics"—where supply lines are under constant threat from drones, precision missiles, and cyberattacks—is now the baseline reality for military planners.

The core of the study deconstructs the military supply chain from "factory to foxhole," detailing the critical roles of strategic lift (sea, air, and rail), theater opening, and the distribution of essential commodities like fuel and ammunition. It emphasizes that the complexity of modern hardware necessitates a robust digital backbone for command and control, as well as agile maintenance networks capable of performing battle damage repair near the front lines. The book highlights a shift away from "just-in-time" commercial efficiencies toward military resilience, advocating for deeper stockpiles, strategic prepositioning of equipment, and the mobilization of national industrial bases to meet the massive attrition rates seen in peer-on-peer conflict.

A significant portion of the text explores transformative technologies and unconventional logistics strategies. The author examines the potential for additive manufacturing (3D printing) to create spare parts on demand and the integration of autonomous ground and aerial systems to reduce human risk in "last tactical mile" delivery. Furthermore, it addresses the energy transition toward electrification and hybrid systems as a means to reduce the vulnerable "fuel tail" of mechanized forces. The book also underscores the necessity of "reverse logistics"—the recovery of equipment and management of battlefield waste—and the importance of interoperability within coalition frameworks to share the burden of sustainment.

Ultimately, the book concludes that logistics is "strategy by other means." It calls for a fundamental redesign of military campaigns to prioritize endurance over mere speed. By integrating industrial capacity with operational planning and embracing deception, dispersion, and technological innovation, militaries can build resilient lines of support. The final chapters offer a framework for commanders and policymakers to assess sustainment risks through wargaming and metrics, ensuring that strategic ambitions remain aligned with the physical and industrial realities of 21st-century warfare.

What You'll Find Inside:

• The logistics gradient framework explains how sustaining forces becomes exponentially more resource-intensive with distance from support bases, higher operational tempo, and sophisticated adversary interdiction, making it a decisive factor in 21st century campaign outcomes.
• Industrial capacity and surge production capabilities are critical determinants of combat endurance, as demonstrated by the Ukraine conflict where artillery ammunition consumption far exceeded peacetime production rates, necessitating rapid mobilization of national arsenals.
• Modern logistics operates as a primary field of contest where precision-guided missiles, drone surveillance, and cyber threats target traditional rear-area hubs, requiring planners to assume constant vulnerability across all supply chain nodes.
• Resilience through redundancy, diversification, and adaptive capacity—not peacetime efficiency—is essential for sustaining operations in contested environments, with strategies including dispersed stockpiles, multi-modal transport, and hardened infrastructure.
• Emerging technologies like additive manufacturing for on-demand parts, autonomous uncrewed logistics systems, and energy transition solutions are transforming tactical-edge sustainment by reducing risk to personnel and shortening repair cycles.

Who's It For:

This book is primarily intended for military logisticians, sustainment planners, and defense acquisition professionals responsible for designing and managing military supply chains in contemporary operational environments. Defense industrialists seeking to align production capabilities with military endurance requirements will also find valuable insights. Additionally, senior military officers and campaign planners who need to understand how logistical constraints affect operational reach and strategic options will benefit from its practical frameworks and case studies drawn from Afghanistan and Ukraine.