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Old 6th January 2008 | 16:01
  #147 (permalink)  
Brain Potter
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: England
I don't think that all 9 core ac will be 3-point.

General McNab, the AMC 4-star, has stated that KC-X is the number one procurement prority in the USAF (JSF was number 3). Furthermore, his list of KC-X "must have" features listed an air-refuelling capability as the 3rd most important attribute. He expanded by stating that they have operated a fleet of 60 tankers that are capable of refuelling alongside a fleet of around 600 that can't - and they are not going to make that mistake again.

It is quite depressing to see how low-spec the FSTA solution is alongside everyone else's new tankers. However, when considered in the context of the (lack-of) funding that the goverment is prepared to allocate to the military, the FSTA really is the best that can be hoped for. Boom, UAARSI or even an entire fleet of 3-pointers is a pipe-dream (geddit!).

Incidentally, the USN have found that buddy-equipped Hornets are useful hose-multipliers when operated with big-wing tankers - which once again proves the old adage of "hoses in the sky".
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