300 Strykers on the way to Afghanistan

Facing continued pressure on supply routes to Afghanistan, the U.S. Army is vehicles  relying on aerial delivery of more than 300 Stryker destined for the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team deploying this summer from its home base in Ft. Lewis Washington state. The vehicles and equipment are being taken by ship for the majority of the trip around the world, and then Air Force assets take over to fly the last portion of the journey into land-locked Afghanistan. U.S. Air Mobility Command officials plan to move the 300-plus vehicles and support equipment, totaling nearly 9,500 tons, into Afghanistan over the next two months on C-17 Globemaster IIIs flown by military crews, an AN-124s, operated by commercial partners. All efforts for the move are being closely coordinated by officials from the U.S. Transportation Command, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base. The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center staff, also at Scott AFB, is responsible for planning and executing the airlift missions.