B-21 Aerial Refueling Demands Further Point To It Being A Stealthy Flying Gas Can
How the Air Force plans to use the B-21's extremely long endurance capabilities has created new requirements for its tanker fleets.
Joseph Trevithick
Posted 19 Hours Ago
B-21 refueling requirements are pushing rethinking of tanker needs.
The U.S. Air Force’s vision for employing its future B-21 Raiders includes new requirements around refueling the stealth bombers in flight. The B-21, which is still deep in development, is expected to have an extremely long unrefueled range thanks to very large internal fuel capacity, a highly efficient airframe, and advanced engines. The disclosure of the Raider’s aerial refueling demands comes amid uncertainty about the Air Force plans for new stealthy tankers as part of its Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) effort.
Air Force Gen. Randall Reed, head of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), talked about the B-21’s aerial refueling requirements while testifying before members of the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week. Aviation Week was first to report on Reed’s comments.
“As the B-21 bomber enters service, which will modernize and increase our bomber fleet, we must also ensure that we have an adequate tanker fleet to support this platform and the important missions it will perform. I understand that the Air Force will make the ultimate decision on its tanker acquisition strategy, but I’d like to better understand how TRANSCOM is working with the Air Force to communicate its requirements. Are you expressing your needs to the Air Force on what you need to support a nuclear bomber force so that it remains effective and a credible deterrent globally?” Sen. Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, asked Reed.
https://www.twz.com/air/b-21-aerial-refueling-demands-further-point-to-it-being-a-stealthy-flying-gas-can
