Defense Secretary Defers Tanker Lease Decision

National Guard, Jun 2004

Defense secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has deferred a decision to lease 1OO air-refueling tankers from Boeing until additional studies now underway can be completed later this year.

The decision was based in part on recommendations lrom the Delcnse Science Board's Aerial Refueling Task Force.

The task force concluded that the corrosion problem on the Air Force and Air Guard KC-135 tankers can be managed, and the operating and maintenance cost growth on the tanker fleet may not be as large as earlier estimates.

It also concluded that the ongoing Mobility Capability Study would clarify questions of tanker recapitalization.

Rumsfeld directed that the studies be completed by November.

The controversial $23 billion lease plan would help upgrade the Air Guard's aging tanker fleet. It calls for upgrading three active-component installations to base 100 new KC-767s. The active KC-135R Stratotankers replaced by the KC-76 7s would then replace older Air Guard KC-135Es.

The task force found that while the Air Force needed to begin modernizing its tanker fleet soon, it did not necessarily have to be done with new aircraft. It suggested converting mothballed DC-10 into air refuelers.