#60: Building Airfields at the Speed of Mission

In a contested environment, the ability to land, refuel and launch aircraft can determine mission success. Dr. Abby Cisko, a research mechanical engineer at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, is helping modernize how U.S. Forces build and sustain expeditionary airfields in austere conditions. Legacy airfield matting systems, like the decades-old AM2, remain effective but come with significant logistical challenges. Heavy, difficult to transport, and labor intensive to install, these systems can slow deployment timelines when speed is most critical. Cisko and her team are addressing that challenge through the development of the Airfield Mat Lightweight system (AML), an alternative designed to reduce weight, improve transport efficiency, and accelerate installation while maintaining operational performance. Cisko explains how the AML system is reshaping logistics by reducing transport requirements and enabling rapid construction of parking areas, taxiways, and fighter hide pads in a matter of days. She also highlights lessons learned from a recent large-scale demonstration in Guam, where direct feedback from Warfighters helped refine both the system design and the technical guidance needed for field use. Topics discussed include how AML improves deployment speed and reduces logistical burden (4:23); how Warfighter feedback is shaping system design and usability (9:31); and how new coating technologies and reusable materials extend the lifespan and flexibility of expeditionary airfield systems (20:29). Visit PowerofERDCPodcast.org/60-building-airfields-speed-of-mission_resources for more information about the AML system. Watch a video of this podcast at PowerofERDCPodcast.org/60-building-airfields-speed-of-mission_video.