TRANSCOM requests KC-135 retirement slow-down during KC-46 transition

U.S. Transportation Command has requested the Air Force slow down its retirement plan for the KC-135 tanker to account for KC-46 delivery delays, the general in charge of the command told lawmakers this week.

In a March 5 hearing, Gen. Stephen Lyons told the Senate Armed Services Committee that adjusting the legacy tanker's planned divestiture is a “key issue” to maintaining operational capacity during the transition to the KC-46.

“The intent is to retain 28 weapon systems beyond their currently scheduled retirement,” Lyons said, noting that the Pentagon's fiscal year 2020 budget release will provide more details on those plans.

Speaking to the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee March 7, Lyons said he is discussing with the Air Force the possibility of KC-135 modernization or service-life extension efforts. The average age of a KC-135 is 57 years, and Lyons noted that the tanker will likely remain in the fleet another 20 years.

The Air Force told lawmakers last year it was also considering a change to planned KC-10 retirements, also as a result of the KC-46 delivery delay. The service had originally expected the first 18 Boeing-made tankers would be delivered in August 2017. The service approved the first two KC-46s for delivery in January.

The service announced last week it has placed a hold on accepting new tanker deliveries after foreign object debris was found discovered on Boeing's production line.