KC-46A Info

[Sua Sponte]

  On 3/17/2025 at 12:36 PM, brabus said:

Absolutely. Multiple countries already using A330 tankers, it’s the best gas passer I’ve ever taken gas from, and it’s not a Boeing. We are retarded for not having done this years ago.

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The MRTT (A330 tanker) carries eight 463L pallets (four in the bottom aft lobe and four in the bottom forward lobe). It also doesn't carry ISU-80/90s due to the height restrictions in the lower cargo lobes. The KC-46 carries 10 463L pallets centerline, 18 463L pallets side-by-side, has aero medevac litters in all jets, etc. The USAF isn't buying tankers just to refuel like the KC-135 originally was built for. 

[Clark Griswold]

  On 3/18/2025 at 2:24 AM, Sua Sponte said:

The MRTT (A330 tanker) carries eight 463L pallets (four in the bottom aft lobe and four in the bottom forward lobe). It also doesn't carry ISU-80/90s due to the height restrictions in the lower cargo lobes. The KC-46 carries 10 463L pallets centerline, 18 463L pallets side-by-side, has aero medevac litters in all jets, etc. The USAF isn't buying tankers just to refuel like the KC-135 originally was built for. 

True but in defense of the MRTT it carries more passengers, 290+ vs 50+ for the 46, 110+ in a contingency configuration.
Just my two cents, the correct answer is both of them for the USAF


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[Clark Griswold]

Preach on Mini

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/03/theres-tanker-sized-gap-vision-air-forces-future/403589/
 

We need this team with a catchy acronym, Future Air Refueling Team or FART if you will…

46s as the foundation and -330 MRTT+ for distance with -390s for ACE.

[Biff_T]

  On 3/20/2025 at 9:15 PM, Clark Griswold said:

Future Air Refueling Team or FART if you will…

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Their specialty is passing gas.  

[Clark Griswold]

If Boeing get the NGAD then LM gets the NGAS, NG can get the F/A-XX


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[Clark Griswold]

NGAS might draw the short straw…

https://theaviationist.com/2025/03/08/uncertain-future-usaf-ngas/#

[StrikeOut312]

Hopefully that means there’s a different solution or these future planes all have long legs. The -135 fleet is pretty old. Hilarious how much the AF relies on the cold war era aircraft.