KC-135 Recapitalization Issues

The KC-135 Stratotanker is the mainstay of the Air Force tanker fleet and has been since it came into the inventory in the late fifties and early sixties. The Air Force cannot effectively support the military's portion of the National Security Strategy without abundant air refueling support. Air refueling is an integral part of US airpower across the range of military operations [emphasis in original]aerial refueling is an essential capability in the conduct of air operations worldwide and is especially important when overseas basing is limited or not available. Air Force air refueling assets perform six basic missions: (1) Single Integrated Operation Plan (SIOP) support, (2) global attack support, (3) air bridge support, (4) deployment support, (5) theater support, and (6) special operations support.1 The Air Force has 541 KC-135 and 59 KC-10 tankers. The KC-135s deliver about 90 percent of the air refueling capability and are the focus of this paper. Of the KC-135s, 124 are less capable E-model tankers. The recent debate over the deal with Boeing to replace the oldest E model tankers with 100 leased KC-767 modified aircraft brought tanker recapitalization to the limelight. Our recent wars to include homeland defense concerns highlight the necessity of tankers but the necessity for immediate recapitalization and the choice of the tanker replacement are contentious issues. The debate spilled over from the Air Force to the Department of Defense to Congress and the media.