The Defense Department is contemplating a new program to allow private companies to provide aerial refueling services to military aircraft, an effort that would relieve the strain on up to 30,000 hours of unmet annual tanker needs and give defense contractors a linchpin operational role in the U.S. military's unique ability to project power around the world. U.S. Transportation Command is spearheading the effort, which is drawing interest from the Pentagon's largest defense suppliers as well as smaller aerospace companies,...
