Filling the Gap

摘要

European armed forces have relied heavily on US tankers for many years to assist air operations, in particular the Kosovo campaign of 1999 and Operation Unified Protector in Libya in 2011. During these and many other operations, air-to- air refuelling (AAR) assets - in particular strategic aircraft - have more than proved their value as force multipliers. To date, just half a dozen European nations have chosen to operate their own tanker fleets, which are mostly modest in size (see European Tanker Aircraft Fleet). The combined US tanker fleet of more than 550 aircraft is made up of just three types (KC-10, KC-130and KC-135). European Union (EU) member states operate barely 50 tanker aircraft comprising nine different aircraft and sub-types. This clearly illustrates the problem Europe faces: insufficient tanker capability and the lack of interoperability.