U.S. Air Force

Air Refueling

The tanker force that extends American airpower across the globe. KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46 Pegasus refuel everything from fighters to bombers to helicopters. Without tankers, the Air Force stops at the coastline.

The Force Multiplier Est. 1948

Air Refueling Squadrons

KC-135 / KC-46 / KC-10

Air Mobility Command

Air refueling is the single capability that makes global American airpower possible. KC-135 Stratotankers have been keeping fighters, bombers, and ISR platforms airborne since 1957. The KC-46 Pegasus is the replacement. Without tankers, fighters cannot cross oceans, bombers cannot reach distant targets, and ISR platforms cannot maintain persistent orbits. The boom operator lying face-down in the back of a KC-135 is the most important person in the air war. Read more

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From Lucky Lady to GWOT 1949 - Present

BOEING / WICHITA

KC-135 Stratotanker

60+ Years of Global Reach

Entered Service

Years of Service

AND DROGUE CAPABLE

The KC-135 entered service in 1957 and remains the backbone of the tanker fleet. Over 800 were built. KC-135s refueled every combat aircraft in Desert Storm, OIF, and OEF. They orbit for hours in threat environments waiting for thirsty fighters. The aircraft has been re-engined as the KC-135R and structurally life-extended, but the airframes are decades old. McConnell AFB, Fairchild AFB, and MacDill AFB are major tanker bases. Read more

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BOEING / EVERETT

The Next Generation Tanker

Aircraft Planned

The KC-46A Pegasus is replacing the KC-135, built on the Boeing 767 airframe. It carries more fuel, offloads faster, and can refuel all fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft using both boom and drogue systems. McConnell AFB received the first operational KC-46s. The program had development challenges with the Remote Vision System used by boom operators, but modifications are underway. The KC-46 will be the tanker that enables Pacific operations in great power competition. Read more

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OVER 200 TANKERS

Desert Storm Tanker Ops

The Air Bridge That Won the War

Tankers Deployed

Bombers Refueled

ENABLED BY TANKERS

Over 200 tankers deployed for Desert Storm, flying nonstop air bridge operations that enabled every phase of the air campaign. F-15Es striking deep into Iraq topped off from KC-135s. B-52s launching from Diego Garcia refueled en route. F-117 stealth fighters on opening night required tanker support. The tanker force flew over 15,000 sorties and offloaded more than 110 million gallons of fuel. No tankers, no air campaign. Read more

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KC-135

Stratotanker

KC-46

Pegasus

AMC

Air Mobility Command

Boom

Global Reach