Aerial Refueling

In view of continuing growth in air refuelable fighters and the likely shortfall in tanker aircraft during large- scale conflict, the United States Air Force should reexamine its current policy of refueling tactical fighters with the boom and receptacle system only. At the present time, all modern Air Force fighters must use the same single boom and receptacle system employed by bomber and airlift aircraft, a system that allows the tanker to service only one aircraft at a time. Because of budget constraints on tanker procurement as well as wartime operational demands on tactical fighters, we must find a more efficient means of employing these vital defense assets.