According to the latest Air Force data, the service’s aerial refueling fleet of KC-135 and KC-10 aircraft flew almost 7,300 sorties in 2006, offloading fuel to nearly 40,000 aircraft. USAF also notes that coalition refueling aircraft—KC-135 and VC-10—flew about 700 sorties. The combined offload of fuel amounts to 4.5 billion gallons.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.