US Air Force Urged to Buy 250 Blended Wing Body Tankers Over More KC-46As, as 2027 Demo Nears

The Hudson Institute recommends that the U.S. Air Force field a medium-sized tanker that can transfer large amounts of fuel at long range. The study models a fleet of 250 blended-wing-body tankers and compares it with 250 KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. The modeled design could deliver more fuel at longer distances, particularly from airfields farther from the fight in the Western Pacific. The Air Force has yet to select a production configuration, and a blended-wing-body demonstrator is scheduled to fly in 2027.