The Lexington Institute has issued a new report succinctly stating the case for replacing the Air Force’s elderly tanker fleet as quickly as possible—and providing insight into the “most important questions bearing upon selection” of a replacement tanker. Authored by Air Force Magazine contributing editor Rebecca Grant, a Lexington research fellow, and Loren Thompson, Lexington chief operating officer, the 20-page report acknowledges that the recapitalization of USAF tankers will “stretch over the next 30 years and could turn our to be one of the largest procurement programs in US history.” Unlike a recent tanker analysis of some 1,900 pages that provided a too broad recommendation, this report poses some “tighter parameters” to narrow the choice. Among its conclusions: the demand for aerial-refueling services will grow, with varied mission requirements; tankers rarely offload their entire capacity (making a strong counter argument against bigger is better); the necessity of forward basing favors a medium-sized tanker.
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
