US refuelling capabilities offer key opportunity for Middle Eastern allies

The US military continues to maintain a large array of aircraft refuelling capabilities, allowing its air force unparalleled ability to strike wherever threats reside and to support allies in the Middle East and beyond.

The US Air Force is estimated to have between 450 and 500 sole-purpose refuelling tankers, including the KC-135 Stratotanker.

The KC-135 can carry up to 200,000 pounds (90,719kg) of fuel, according to a US Air Force fact sheet.

Depending on fuel storage configuration, the aircraft can also carry up to 83,000 pounds (37,648kg) of cargo.

Boeing's model 367-80 is the basic design for the commercial 707 passenger plane as well as the KC-135A Stratotanker.

In 1954, the Air Force purchased the first 29 of its future 732-plane fleet. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.

The US Air Force in 1981 also inducted the KC-10 Extender as a larger option to the KC-135.

The KC-10 has three main wing fuel tanks as well as three large fuel tanks under the cargo floor, under the forward lower cargo compartment, in the center wing area and under the rear compartment.

Combined, the capacity of the six tanks is more than 356,000 pounds (160,200kg) of fuel -- almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Regional co-operation

Israel's co-operation with the United States on refuelling capabilities represents an example for other US allies in the region.

Israel currently has seven repurposed Boeing 707s -- the same aircraft model as the KC-135 -- for mid-air refuelling, according to Flight Global's 2023 World Air Forces.

In March, Israel sent its Boeing 707 tanker aircraft to the US-led Red Flag exercise in Nevada, where they took part in training exercises alongside Israel's F-35I Adir aircraft.

Israel last September also inked a deal to purchase four KC-46A tankers.

The KC-46As will replace Israel's 707 tankers, and are expected to arrive in 2025 and 2026, Defence News reported.

A US bill introduced in February 2023 requires the Pentagon to rotationally deploy one or more KC-46 aircraft to Israel for either five years or until the first KC-46 is delivered and achieves full combat capability.

Once Israel has obtained the aircraft, its air force will be able to conduct long-range bombing missions if necessary.

Boeing bills the KC-46A as the "world's most advanced multi-mission aerial refueling aircraft" on a company fact sheet. The plane is classified as an aerial refuelling and strategic military transport aircraft.

It can deliver fuel to aircraft in mid-air, "[relay] real-time data" to warplanes, evacuate injured personnel, deliver cargo and transport troops to and from battle zones.

"The KC-46A can convert between cargo, passenger and aeromedical evacuation modes in just two hours," according to Boeing.

It carries 212,299 pounds (96,297kg) of fuel, which enables it to refuel 30 F-16s.

The planes that the KC-46A can refuel so far include B-52 bombers, F-15 and F-16 fighters, and F/A-18 Super Hornets.