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LongCA

12/05/18 8:01 PM

#21539 RE: bob4uall #21538

This is due to the shortage of tankers and delays at Boeing:

"The partnership comes as the Air Force is eager to get more tanking assets to meet the demands of the new U.S. National Defense Strategy. In September, the service announced that it will need at least 14 additional tanker squadrons by 2030."



Further:

The Air Force plans to buy 179 KC-46 tankers from Boeing so that it can begin phasing out older models, but the company has missed key delivery dates multiple times — most recently this October. And even after Boeing begins delivering planes at a steady clip, there may be a requirement for more than a hundred new tankers beyond the KC-46 program of record.



https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/12/05/lockheed-airbus-venture-ups-the-pressure-on-boeing-to-deliver-its-us-air-force-tankers/


Remember, too, that NATO needs more Air-to-AIr refueling tankers, as we saw here:

As of 2025, it is expected to see Europe meeting 70% mark of its stated tanking requirement. While this represents a major increase, it still leaves Europe with an overall shortfall of 30%.



https://www.eda.europa.eu/info-hub/events/2018/09/12/default-calendar/1st-air-to-air-refuelling-conference-in-europe


TMPS acquired the tankers BECAUSE of this need, and a proposed partnership to build new tankers does not fill the needs NOW and in the future.