The Maine Air National Guard’s 101st Air Refueling Wing at Bangor received its first KC-135R—the R designates a re-engined KC-135—a gift from BRAC 2005, reports Associated Press news service. Ultimately, according to the BRAC commission decisions, the 101st will gain 10 R models and ship its current force of KC-135Es off to the boneyard at the Aircraft Regeneration and Recycling Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
