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Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker

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Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker
NameKC-135R Stratotanker
CaptionA United States Air Force KC-135R refuels an F-15 Eagle.
TypeAerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft
National originUnited States
ManufacturerBoeing
First flight31 August 1956 (KC-135A)
IntroductionJune 1957
Primary userUnited States Air Force
Number built732 (all KC-135s)
Developed fromBoeing 367-80
Variants with their own articlesBoeing C-135 Stratolifter, Boeing EC-135, Boeing NC-135, Boeing RC-135

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker is a military aerial refueling aircraft derived from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. It is the primary tanker aircraft for the United States Air Force and forms the backbone of the Air Mobility Command's global reach capability. The "R" model designation signifies a comprehensive re-engining program that transformed the fleet's performance, replacing the original Pratt & Whitney J57 engines with modern, more powerful CFM International CFM56 engines.

Design and development

The airframe's origins trace to the Cold War era, developed in response to a United States Department of Defense requirement for a jet-powered tanker aircraft to support the burgeoning fleet of Strategic Air Command B-52 Stratofortress bombers. The design competed against proposals from Lockheed Corporation and Douglas Aircraft Company, with the Boeing entry, initially designated the 367-80, winning the contract. The re-engining program to create the KC-135R was initiated in the 1980s to address severe shortcomings in thrust, fuel efficiency, and noise. The new CFM International CFM56 engines, also used on commercial airliners like the Boeing 737, provided over 50% more thrust, significantly reduced fuel consumption, and allowed operations from shorter runways, such as those in Iceland and Thule Air Base. The modernization also included updates to the flight deck, avionics, and air refueling boom systems.

Operational history

Entering service after the modification program in the 1980s, the KC-135R quickly became indispensable to United States power projection. It has been a constant presence in every major conflict and operation since the Gulf War, providing critical aerial refueling for aircraft like the F-117 Nighthawk, B-2 Spirit, and F-22 Raptor during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force, and Operation Enduring Freedom. The fleet is operated primarily by the Air Mobility Command, with the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard flying significant numbers. These aircraft routinely deploy to forward locations like Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and have also supported North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and partners such as France and the Royal Australian Air Force during coalition operations.

Variants

The KC-135R is the most numerous variant, but the basic C-135 airframe has spawned numerous specialized versions. The KC-135T is a similar model with minor system differences, while the KC-135E was an interim upgrade with older Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines. Other major variants include the EC-135 command post, the RC-135 reconnaissance family (like the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint), and the NC-135 testbed aircraft. The French Air and Space Force operates a derivative known as the C-135FR, which has also undergone a CFM56 re-engining program.

Operators

The primary operator is the United States Air Force, with aircraft assigned to active, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command units across bases like McConnell Air Force Base, Fairchild Air Force Base, and Pease Air National Guard Base. The only other current military operator is the French Air and Space Force, which flies the similar C-135FR and KC-135R aircraft. Former operators include the Republic of Singapore Air Force, which leased four KC-135Rs temporarily. The Turkish Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force have operated the similar KE-3 variant.

Specifications (KC-135R)

General characteristics * Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot, boom operator) * Length: 136 ft 3 in (41.53 m) * Wingspan: 130 ft 10 in (39.88 m) * Height: 41 ft 8 in (12.70 m) * Powerplant: 4 × CFM International CFM56-2B-1 turbofan engines, 22,000 lbf (98 kN) thrust each * Maximum transfer fuel load: 200,000 lb (90,700 kg) Performance * Range: 1,500 mi (2,400 km) with 150,000 lb (68,000 kg) transfer fuel * Ferry range: 11,015 mi (17,766 km) * Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,200 m)

Notable accidents and incidents

The KC-135 fleet has experienced several hull-loss accidents over its long service life. A significant early accident involved a KC-135A that crashed shortly after takeoff from Eielson Air Force Base in 1968. In 1990, a Kentucky Air National Guard KC-135R crashed during a training mission near Barksdale Air Force Base. A major tragedy occurred in 2006 when a KC-135E from the Iowa Air National Guard crashed in the Andes mountains in Peru. More recently, in 2019, a United States Air Force KC-135R sustained substantial damage in a hard landing at RAF Mildenhall in England.

Category:United States military tanker aircraft Category:Boeing aircraft Category:Cold War military aircraft of the United States