Additional Fuel May Pay Off In Tanker Competition

Additional Fuel May Pay Off In Tanker Competition

the first group of 179 new KC-Xs will not be reinforced with KC-Y and KC-Z for 15-20 years and the larger KC-10 replacement will not show up for 30 years

. . .

In the near-term tanker competition for KC-X, time on station and total fuel carriage will likely be the key determinant between Boeing’s 767 or EADS’s A330 tanker designs, says retired Lt. Gen. Norm Seip and Rebecca Grant, author of a new white paper, “Nine Secrets of the Tanker War.”

not unless they cancel the competition and issue a new RFP

While the Air Force’s long-time desire for additional aircraft — instead of much greater fuel carriage — is not dead, it has been overtaken by events in the last decade, including the need to operate at ranges of 1,000 naut. mi. from the nearest 7,000-ft. runway, particularly during missions over the Pacific and Asia.

. . .

“The extra fuel on station [at long range] pays off” in the studies dealing with future warfare, she says.

Operational burdens in future conflicts may be less because there will be fewer manned tactical aircraft to refuel, another result of tightening defense budgets. But they may be increased again by the need to service unmanned surveillance and strike aircraft from both the Navy and Air Force.

Indeed, declining defense spending power will require the accelerated retirement of as many of the KC-135s as possible

. . .

Plans to use the new tanker airframe to replace other Boeing 707-based aircraft like the 55th wing’s specialized intelligence gathering RC-135s, the E-3 Awacs air surveillance and the E-8 JStars ground surveillance aircraft will have to wait for follow-on buys of tanker aircraft to fit in replacements.

. . .

However, the extra time on station will make the joint surveillance and tanker mission more likely to be a success

will future UAVs use boom or hose?

so we have
– delayed KC-Y, KC-Z
– faster retirement of KC-135
– more fuel needed for long ranges in Pacific and Asia
– more fuel needed for increased loiter when used in ISR role
– more booms/hoses needed for UAVs