Rumor has it that the USAF are considering cancelling a number of F-22s and using the money instead to buy around 450 KC-Xs. Sounds reasonable given the average age of the KC-135 of 35 yrs. But, I don't think there are any manufacturers that can bang out 450 frames in short order - the best you'll get is around 15 frames per year. That being the case, watch this space as the DoD invest in Boeing 777s, 767s AND Airbus MRTTs (A-320)...
Japan has committed to it's future in AAR, Italy, Australia; the US will make its decision in 1/10th of the time the UK has deliberated. There is a real risk here that the UK will fall behind in yet another area of modern warfare.
And NKAWTG, preferably from a tanker with pods, boom, uaarsi, centre-line hose and a probe etc.
