Continued Tanker Recapitalization RDT&E
Accelerating future tanker capability and recapitalizing the Air Force's aging tanker fleet is a top priority for the Department of the Air Force. In FY 2024, the Department of the Air Force broke from its previous recapitalization approaches (KC-X, KC-Y, KC-Z) in favor of more agile methods, prioritizing and accelerating the right capabilities to deliver fuel to the fight. This new approach continues Tanker Recapitalization (PE 0605164F) efforts between KC-46A (PE 040221F) and the Next Generation Air-refueling System (NGAS) (PE 0605057F). The Department of the Air Force (DAF) will use the Tanker Recapitalization program to replace up to 15 KC-135s legacy tankers per year as they retire. The total number of Tanker Recap aircraft procured will be influenced by the FY 2024 NGAS Analysis of Alternatives and dependent on NGAS's first delivery. The Tanker Recapitalization program will deliver an air-refuelable, commercial derivative, limited development tanker that provides fuel to U.S. and coalition aircraft receivers via a boom or drogue system that can operate in day/night and adverse weather conditions to enable deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment of U.S. and coalition forces. The Tanker Recapitalization program will have communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment to support worldwide operations and refueling competences in chemical, biological and hostile threat environments through self defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities to include the necessary battlespace awareness to mitigate threats. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.