What Are The Future Trends In Air-To-Air Refueling Technology?

Summary The retirement of the KC-10 Extender hints at future trends with the KC-46 Pegasus. The KC-46 Pegasus offers updated capabilities compared to the KC-135 Stratotanker. Testing of autonomous systems in the USAF aims to revolutionize air-to-air refueling.

As I noted in a couple of previous articles, the KC-10 Extender is being retired. Meanwhile, the KC-135 Stratotanker is not too far behind. The KC-10 was designed to supplement the KC-135 for USAF aerial refueling ops.

Yet the KC-10 is actualte first of the two to be retired. Why? So then, what does this mean for future trends in military air-to-air refueling? The short answer, of course, is the KC-46 Pegasus. But, since we at Simple Flying aren't content to settle for a short answer (gee, what fun would that be?), we now explore the question in greater detail.

" N.K,A.W.

T.G. (Nobody Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas) "--unofficial tanker pilot motto Behold the Pegasus The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus made its maiden flight on December 28, 2014.

Itperformed its first successful aerial refueling mission (an F-16 Fighting Falcon was the beneficiary of the tanker's services) in January 2016, and entering operational service with the US Air Force in 2019. The USAF approved the Pegasus for operational use in 2022, and intends to procure 179 of the tankers by 2027. The KC-46 Pegasus is a much-needed replacement for the KC-135 tanker.

One of the Pegasus's chief improvements over its ancestors' and predecessors' refueling systems is describ.