Finding a replacement for the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker was one of the most difficult and controversial tasks ever undertaken by the USAF. David Willis details the rise and fall of the ill-fated KC-767A deal
Boeing formed a 767 Tanker Programs Office as part of its Military Aerospace Support division in early 2001. The programme was launched that July, when Italy ordered four KC-767s, while Japan contracted for a further four during December. However, the primary target customer was the US Air Force (USAF), to which Boeing had offered to lease 100 KC-767s. The proposal aimed to replace around 130 KC-135Es, among the oldest and most maintenance-intensive variants of the stratotanker flown by the USAF.
The USAF had originally planned to begin replacing its KC-135s around fiscal year 2008 at the earliest. Simply put, it could not afford new tankers before then, because of other demands on its budget. Boeing’s offer would cost it $20m per aircraft per year, plus $2m per aircraft annually in support costs, considerably lower upfront costs than a traditional procurement and placing new tankers in service considerably earlier.
By the start of the millennium, sales of the 767 airliner had slowed, so building 100 aircraft for the USAF…
