The Air Force says it wants stealthy tankers in the air by 2040 to improve its chances of pressing a battle in the far-flung locations that are often the site of such conflicts. One of its main constraints is that its tankers are sitting ducks for even the most rudimentary anti-aircraft munitions. The Air Force says the winner of the contract will offer an airplane that is “capable of surviving in contested airspace” as a primary requirement and that it will consider all shapes and sizes of aircraft.
It’s also saying that it will look at “novel technologies or operational concepts,” meaning drones will be part of the mix. Among the requirements will be that the new tankers can also receive fuel in the air so they can more efficiently supply the frontline aircraft. The Air Force says the threat from China is driving the move from traditional tankers because the People’s Liberation Army has the ability to take out the lumbering airframes from a wide variety of weapons platforms at long range. In the ensuing 18 years, the Air Force is looking at upgrading the KC-46 as part of a “bridge tanker” program.
Looks like the Air Force has found a use for the remaining B2’s. How much fuel can you stuff into it?
Kinda nuts to ASSUME that planes flying a race track would be not seen by and adversary.
That is exactly how the KC135 was identified refueling the Navy P8 that was tracked over the Russian pipeline attack. They tried to hide the P8 by using a rotating CIA code, and blocked the track from normal commercial tracking. But, there are thousands of private aircraft tracking personal sites, that tracked the entire attack on the pipeline through Open Source Flight Trackers.
In an attempt to hide the classified weapon used for the attack, news agencies are pushing a Navy Diver account… it is total B.S. Putin knows this and was letting the pain of high prices sink in before it is pointed out the US did the attack to prevent Germany from turning back on the pipeline when things got tough, and recognized US LNG was seven times the price of Russian LNG.
Terror attacks on German fuel supplies isn’t going to go over well… I bet the people demand US bases be closed.
OH, SkyGlass was the program that tracked the entire attack track on the pipeline. Any fool can watch it and indisputably see down to the exact point of weapons release.
National Defense Magazine just wrote an article on the subject of open source flight tracking and how it is a treat to military aircraft. You would think a covert operation would include ENCON and someone responsible for it.
Hell, I hid military ships better.
Maybe a balloon with a tank hanging from it? Might need an odd flight profile to hook up, and then climb like hell not to break the hose, but that is what computers are for.
I give it 20 years before the US military budget equals the rest of the world’s. Currently larger than the next 10 combined.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
The task of projecting tactical airpower into a distant conflict area where you have neither secure forward support bases nor guaranteed air superiority is a tough one to deal with.
Might end up determining that numbers of smaller drone tankers that themselves refuel back away from the “contested area” then shuttle in to service the fighters will be the way to go. No crew means no limits on mission time, so you’d also want efficient loiter capabilities.
Wait, what?? They say we won’t be using fossil fuels in 2040. Why build a new tanker?
They want this because the new proposed, not very secret B-21 bomber only has a range of 500 miles. That’s less than my RV-9A will do, though my range might be a bit diminished with a nuke aboard.
This range comment is nonsense
Looks like this is the alternative when the single tanker pilot program flames out.
A B-21 Bomber does NOT have a range of 500 nm.
More internet nonsense —
The Australian Strategic Policy report states that a B-21 could fly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) without refueling while carrying more munitions as compared to the maximum 930 miles (1,500 km) range of the RAAF’s F-35 fighter jets, which require air-to-air refueling. A single B-21 can also deliver the same impact as several F-35As. Additionally, the B-21 can attack targets from secure air bases located in Australia’s south, with greater proximity to more personnel, fuel and munitions. The report advocated the acquisition of a number of B-21 Raiders in order to enable Australia to have a greater long-range strike capability.
US Congress suggests sending B-21 stealth bombers to Australia under AUKUS partnership. The long-range nuclear-capable B-21 Raider was publicly unveiled by the United States Air Force in December. It is expected to make its first flight this year, in 2023 eventually replacing the country’s B-1 and B-2 bombers. In a resolution contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023, Congress requests that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin launch an independent assessment of the “challenges” to implement AUKUS and to explore other alternatives to help America’s ally.
“Alternatives that would significantly accelerate Australia’s national security, including — (A) interim submarine options to include leasing or conveyance of legacy United States submarines for Australia’s use; or (B) the conveyance of B-21 bombers.”
AvWeb Comments: The new psuedo-news/social-media controversy site.
I know it’s a cartoon image, but thinking … an aircraft that has no vertical tail, with hoses hanging from each wingtip. What could go wrong?