The Air Force’s total inventory of aerial refuelers would reach at least 504 platforms by fiscal year 2028 — nearly 40 more than currently enacted — according to an amendment to the House Armed Services Committee’s defense authorization bill.
The amendment proposes a change to the United States Code for the minimum number of tankers required to be in the Air Force’s inventory. Instead of maintaining an inventory of “no less than 466” platforms, the modification would now mandate an inventory of at least 466 tankers by the end of FY-26, 485 during FY-27 and 504 by the start of FY-28.
The amendment passed this morning in a voice vote as lawmakers consider other additions to the policy bill. It would also prohibit the retirement of any KC-135 Stratotankers from the Air Force Reserves.
In case the service’s inventory falls below 504 aerial refuelers, the amendment notes retired KC-10 Extenders could be preserved for limited use.
The Air Force is now considering a service life extension to keep its Stratotankers in the air beyond their stated 2050 retirement date. Such an extension would help fill in tanker inventory capability gaps, the Air Force previously said, as it continues to pursue some kind of Next Generation Air-refueling System or add-on survivable characteristics to its existing fleet of tankers.
At the same time, the service is recapitalizing its KC-135 fleet with the KC-46 Pegasus until administration officials make a decision about whether to pursue NGAS.
The Pegasus is also undergoing modernization and could receive a follow-on tanker production contract “within months,” according to previous testimony from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.
Originally published Inside Defense
