📋 Tender Overview
Published Sept. 11, 2026 By Jena Calvitti Headquarters Air Force, Office of the Director of Logistics SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- The FVEY A4 Collaboration Forum stood at the center of allied strategic partnership July 28-31, 2026, as logisticians from five partner nations converged at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to discuss the air forces most critical operational challenges and solutions. This yearly forum brought together senior leaders and logistics experts from the United States Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force in an effort to synchronize global logistics capabilities. While initially established as an intelligence-sharing alliance, contemporary geopolitical tensions and global sustainment challenges have driven FVEY air forces to expand their focus to maintenance and interoperability, munitions loading, base response and recovery, additive manufacturing, force protection and other enterprise challenges. Today, the alliance has transformed to include active collaboration on military logistics, formalized through initiatives like the annual FVEY A4 Collaboration Forum, established in 2022. The joint charter, updated in late 2024, provides a platform to synchronize shared partner basing, infrastructure and interoperable sustainment logistics across the globe. As the designated heartbeat of global military movement, Scott Air Force Base is the premier venue for leaders to discuss Air Force logistics. The base serves as the joint headquarters for the U.S. Transportation Command, which orchestrates global logistics solutions across all branches of the U.S. military, as well as the Air Mobility Command, which directly oversees the U.S. Air Forces massive airlift, aeromedical evacuation and aerial refueling operations. This years theme, Time on Target, takes a classic military concept and directly applies it to how we keep our forces agile and effective. Just like coordinating different weapon systems to strike a target at the exact same moment, the FVEY A4 Collaboration Forum is focused on synchronizing our applied logistics capabilities. It comes down to ensuring that critical gear, fuel and munitions from five different nations arrive at the tactical edge at the precise moment theyre needed. By aligning our logistics networks and sharing real-time data, were ensuring our forces can keep up a relentless operational tempo without missing a beat. Logistics leaders from Five Eyes partner nations synchronize global sustainment and supply networks during the FVEY A4 Collaboration Forum at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, July 30, 2026. The forum bolsters allied readiness and deterrence by advancing interchangeable support capabilities at the tactical edge worldwide. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res From a logistics standpoint, we understand that the tyranny of distance is always a challenge. As partners, we come from various parts of the globe; our ability to exercise together ensures that well have common knowledge, meaning that if we ever need to come together in order to solve challenges in a conflict, were going to be that much stronger, said Lt. Gen. Kenyon K. Bell, U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection. To project allied power, unified collaboration is non-negotiable. A pivotal discussion at the forum focused on the critical distinction between being interoperable and being interchangeable. Interoperable forces can load weapons, move munitions and fly together. However, interchangeable forces can sustain one another, meaning a U.S. aircraft can touch down at an allied base and utilize the host nations fuel, parts and munitions for a rapid turnaround, eliminating the need for specialized equipment. Working with our partners, we can combine our resources to mitigate some of those vulnerabilities that we otherwise might have. In doing this, were improving the resilience of our logistics capabilities which ultimately underpins deterrence and builds stability in the region, said Air Commodore Natasia Pulford, Royal Australian Air Force Director General Airbase and Logistics Capability. Attendees engaged in targeted briefings spanning national updates, current conflict intelligence and working group milestones. A key highlight included site visits to USTRANSCOM and the 618th Air Operations Center--the Tanker Airlift Control Center. As the U.S. Air Forces premier air operations hub, the 618 AOC provides 24/7 command and control support for a massive global fleet of nearly 1,100 mobility assets Now in its fifth year, the FVEY A4 Collaboration Forum continues to mature as a vital platform for addressing shared operational vulnerabilities and opportunities. Whether through tactical field training where allied Airmen train like they fight, or executive forums aligning logistics policies and resources, the mission remains unified: we are stronger together, and we must integrate our capabilities to secure a decisive, collective strategic advantage. The collaboration at this forum and the mindset that comes with it is really important, said Air Commodore Craig Watson, Royal Air Force Head of Engineering and Logistics, HQ Air Command. It helps us understand common challenges, share the learning in response to those challenges, and identify opportunities to work together. Thats a real advantage across allies. U.S. Air Force Logo
