Air Force budget constraints jeopardize new refueling tanker, NGAS

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently expressed doubts over the affordability of the Next-Generation Aerial Refueling System (NGAS) amid rising costs for essential modernization programs, per Defense News. Intended to support combat scenarios like a potential Indo-Pacific conflict with China, NGAS would feature enhance capabilities in contested environments. Key advancements under consideration include stealth, increased fuel capacity for extended range, and advanced communication systems for better integration with fifth- and sixth-generation fighter aircraft. However, budget pressures tied to other priorities, such as the B-21 bomber and Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft, complicate procurement efforts. As the Air Force reviews its modernization priorities, Kendall emphasized the need to reassess air superiority and logistics investments to maintain readiness against global threats.

The Air Force's refueling tanker program has faced challenges even before the currently in-production KC-46. In the early 2000s, Congress formulated a controversial lease deal for Boeing KC-767 tankers, which would have allowed the Air Force to lease 100 tankers from Boeing. This deal faced intense scrutiny and was eventually canceled in 2004 amid allegations of corruption, leading to criminal convictions. Development has since been plagued by delays and cost overruns, including issues with its refueling system and remote vision system.