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A Fleet Of 12 To 16 Ex Usaf Kc-135r Tankers Would Provide The Adf With A Significant Capability To Defend The Region Against External Threats. While The Government Has Declared Its Intention To Focus On Regional Security, This Has Yet To Be Demonstrated By Deed. Acquiring Kc-135r Tankers Would Vastly Improve Australia's Ability To Defend Itself From A Distance, And Would Add Much Credibility To The Government's Stated Policy Direction For A Modest Outlay In Resources. (Boeing)
The Case for RAAF KC-135s
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The Case for Raaf Kc-135s
The ADF’s lack of a true operational inflight refuelling capability has been and continues to be a major weakness in our force structure. During the eighties the subject was deemed to be taboo in defence circles, ostensibly as elements of both the incumbent government and the civilian component of the DoD considered the acquisition of a substantial tanker force to be politically destabilising in the region and portraying Australia as offensively oriented in its military posture. Whether the real reason for a gaping hole in our capabilities were indeed weak politicians and defence bureaucrats, or simply a shortage of funding, is open to debate.
Whatever the historical reasons, the present state of affairs is that we have a mere four Boeing 707 tankers, capable of refuelling only the F/A-18. These tankers are dual role aircraft, doubling up as transports. There is no capability to refuel our F-111 force, which is our primary tool for long range power projection, strategic reconnaissance and maritime strike.
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