Air Force presses case for faster replacement of tankers

Published: Mar 01, 2006
Source: www.govexec.com



Air Force officials told House lawmakers Tuesday night they want to proceed this year with expensive plans to replace its fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, despite a recent analysis that found the 1950s-era planes can fly for another quarter century.

If the Air Force does not begin to replace the fleet now, the service may end up flying many of these tankers, which lack defenses and other systems, for another 40 years, senior officers said at a House Armed Services Projection Forces Subcommittee hearing.

"Eighty years will be a very, very old aircraft," said Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, the service's top acquisition officer.continue..