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Publication Date: June 2006
Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Author(s):
Research Area: Military and defense
Type:
Abstract:
Decisions on the composition of the Air Force aerial refueling fleet were made decades ago, when the primary mission was to refuel long-range strategic bombers. Modifications have been made to many of these tanker aircraft (KC-135s and KC10s) to make them more effective in refueling fighter aircraft. This report, which will be updated, examines the balance between two different refueling methods in today's refueling fleet -- "flying boom" and "hose-and-drogue."