USAF seeks to retire aging tankers in FY-22/23, avoid $845M in costs

摘要

The Defense Department - in a sign of confidence in the operational potential of its fledgling K.C-46 tanker fleet, despite serious deficiencies -is asking Congress to rescind statutory limitations on retiring older aircraft in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to accelerate the Air Force's future force design and avoid $845 million in additional costs to extend the service life of aging KC-10A and KC-135s. The Pentagon, as part of a second batch of FY-22 legislative proposals transmitted to Congress June 18, is asking lawmakers to roll back a provision of the FY-21 National Defense Authorization Act that restricts the Air Force from retiring the KC-135 through the end of FY-23 and also limits KC-10A and KC-135 divestments in FY-22.