[MilCom] KC-45 Bases

[Jack L. Metcalfe]

At 12:51 AM 3/10/2008, Joe Cobb wrote:
>I seriously doubt all the KC-135's would be placed out
>of service after this tanker comes on line.  I'm sure
>they will do what they can in mods and such to the
>KC-135 to keep some in service like the B-52.  I
>forsee the AR tracks staying right where they are.
>Some might close but i doubt a lot will.
---
No, the KC-135s aren't going to disappear overnight.  They can't 
build KC-45As fast enough to replace them.  Also, and I didn't make 
this clear, the KC-135s & KC-10s will be replaced in a three program 
approach.  The first, KC-X became the 179 KC-45As that Northrop/EADS 
just won a week or so ago.  These 179 aircraft will begin replacing 
the older KC-135s as they come on line in 2013.  The KC-Y program 
will be bid around 2020 & may be a different platform than the 
KC-45A.  Boeing is already proposing a Blended Wing Body (BWB) for 
its entry.  If I remember correctly, the KC-10s replacement will be 
rolled into this program.  KC-Z comes along about 2033 & will replace 
the remaining tankers.

I have no idea if the KC-135s & KC-10s will be replaced on a plane 
per plane basis, but even if planned, I would doubt it.  There hardly 
has been an acquisition program in the last 50 years that has 
delivered the total number of aircraft first proposed (maybe the F-15 
or F-16), the number actually acquired always seems to 
drop.  Originally, 132 B-2s were proposed, but only 21 were 
built.  381 F-22s were planned at first, but now the USAF has settled 
on 183.  1,732 F-35s were originally proposed, but recently, the USAF 
announced they could do with hundreds less.  Of course, world events 
could change everything, but if I were betting, I'd bet on a smaller 
total number of tankers, fighters & bombers than we've got now.

Change of subject, catch your F-117s while you can.  The remaining 
F-117s will be placed into "recallable" storage at Holloman AFB next 
month.  Of the original 59 F-117s, 7 were destroyed (one in combat) 
10 were retired in FY 2007 & the remainder will go this FY.  Holloman 
may be flying the F-22 as a replacement.
-------------------
Jack L. Metcalfe
Stanford, KY
jlmetcalfe at hughes.net
-------------------