Use of Aviation Turbine Fuel JP-8 as the Single Fuel on the Battlefield

The U.S. military, as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), interchanges fuels and other materials with other member nations throughout Europe. NATO is planning to use a single fuel for all battlefield operations, substituting NATO code F-34 (JP-8) for F-40 (JP-4) in aircraft and for F-54 (diesel fuel) in ground equipment. As part of this conversion process, the U.S. Army has been evaluating the impact of this fuel change on the operation of its diesel-fueled ground equipment. This paper covers some of the initial diesel engine durability testing being conducted and also reports some preliminary data of the operation of selected combat and tactical vehicles on F-34 (JP-8). This work, as well as other projects referenced, was a predecessor to the full conversion of an Army base to JP-8 as a final demonstration prior to the conversion within NATO. Fort Bliss, located near El Paso, TX, was converted to F-34 (JP-8) beginning February 1989.