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Air Force

USAF May Finalize ‘Gapfiller’ Tanker Strategy This Summer

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, March 7th, 2024

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USAF May Finalize ‘Gapfiller’ Tanker Strategy This Summer

U.S. Air Force Maj. Kyle Baker, 22nd Operations Support Squadron chief of tactics, pilots a KC-135 Stratotanker during the EXPLODEO exercise on Feb. 28, over Kansas (U.S. Air Force Photo)

This summer, the U.S. may finalize an acquisition strategy for a "gapfiller" tanker to fill a five-year hiatus between the delivery of the 179th and final Boeing [BA] KC-46A Pegasus and the fielding of the first Next Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS). Boeing and Airbus are in the running for that gapfiller tanker--Airbus with an A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport. Last October, Lockheed Martin said it had chosen not to respond to an Air Force Request for Information (RFI) on the…

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