The Air Force may have to extend the service life of its aging KC-135 tankers beyond the planned retirement date of 2050. This decision will depend on the number of new tankers purchased in the coming years and the status of a next-generation refueling aircraft. The KC-135, which was introduced in the 1950s, has been a crucial part of the Air Force’s tanker fleet, undergoing numerous upgrades over time. However, with the retirement of the KC-10 Extender and the KC-46 Pegasus experiencing low readiness, the Air Force may need to keep the KC-135 in service, potentially leading to substantial modifications to ensure its continued operation.
General Johnny Lamontagne, head of Air Mobility Command, conveyed to Defense One that recapitalizing the tanker fleet is a key priority, and extending the service life of the KC-135 may be necessary. The tanker strategy of the Air Force has been stagnant for several years, as officials analyze two related proposals: a near-term tanker recapitalization and the Next Generation Air Refueling System (NGAS).
The results of this analysis will clarify whether an extension of the KC-135’s service life is warranted. Should this be the case, major modifications and enhancements would be necessary to keep the fleet operational.
The prospects for a new stealthy tanker remain unclear, as Air Force officials are focusing more on developing a sixth-generation fighter jet, referred to as Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). The analysis of alternatives for NGAS is expected to conclude by the end of the month, with the future of both NGAS and NGAD dependent on incoming leadership.
Air Force Chief David Allvin highlighted that there are alternative methods to enhance the survivability of existing tankers, such as electronic warfare strategies and improved data integration with other platforms. He emphasized that NGAS should be conceptualized not solely as a single aircraft but as a system of systems to improve operational capabilities in high-threat environments.
The Air Force is also deliberating its next acquisition of tankers, intending to procure at least 75 additional aircraft needed for aerial refueling until NGAS becomes operational. However, officials have yet to confirm specifics about the purchase, as this hinges on wider decisions regarding NGAS’s development timeline.
Despite the uncertainty, General Lamontagne noted the intention to proceed with recapitalizing the KC-135 fleet, though the specifics of this plan remain undecided and will likely unfold in the coming months. He clarified that the Air Force is not solely committed to procuring more Boeing KC-46s for this interim purchase and is considering a variety of vendor options.
As the Air Force assesses its tanker strategy, it is addressing ongoing issues with the KC-46 Pegasus. Deliveries were halted on February 27 due to the discovery of cracks in the aircraft’s support structure. Of the 50 inspected tankers, 11 were found to have cracks, with inspections for the remaining aircraft slated to conclude by the end of the month. While these cracks do not pose an immediate safety threat, Lamontagne described the situation as a “pretty quick fix” once the necessary parts are available.
The KC-46 program has faced other challenges related to “category one” deficiencies that pose significant risk. Progress is being made to resolve these issues, with several deficiencies downgraded from category one to category two, indicating operational challenges that can be managed through workarounds. Currently, the command is actively addressing five category one deficiencies.
