Think Tank Recommends 250 Blended-Wing-Body Tankers for U.S. Air Force
A think tank analysis recommends a 250-aircraft blended-wing-body tanker fleet and estimates that the design could deliver twice the refueling performance of a KC-46A.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: Air & Space Forces Magazine
A think tank analysis recommends that the U.S. Air Force acquire 250 blended-wing-body (BWB) tankers. The analysis also estimates that a hypothetical BWB tanker could provide twice the refueling performance of a KC-46A Pegasus.
Key details
- The analysis recommends a fleet of 250 BWB tankers.
- It estimates that a hypothetical BWB tanker could provide twice the KC-46A’s refueling performance; it does not identify the performance measure.
- A BWB demonstrator evaluation is expected in 2027, according to the report.
The analysis recommends that the U.S. Air Force acquire 250 blended-wing-body tankers.
Why it matters
The recommendation gives the Air Force a potential future tanker concept to assess alongside its existing KC-46A benchmark. A demonstrator evaluation would provide a step toward examining the blended-wing-body design.
What happens next
The planned 2027 demonstrator evaluation offers a next opportunity to assess the BWB concept. What capabilities should the Air Force prioritize in its future tanker fleet?
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