Oh, so now the A330 is supposedly capable of short or rough airstrips like the C-17 was built for?
No greybeard it wont. But then again that is not what knowitall is saying. If you use your KC30/45s to do more of the routine resupply from CONUS to FOB then you release more of your C17s to do the short or rough strip role. It's simple logic really.
The USAF should be buying used 767s and DC10-30s with, say 50,000 hours on the airframes, and having them converted to tankers.
Given the RAF's experience of buying used and converting you are simply wide of the mark here. It is expensive and you have to replace your capability earlier. The reason that the KC135s have done 40 odd years is because they were brand new when brought into service. Buying used is a short term saving against a long term cost.
Lets face it. The KC30/45 is simply a more capable aircraft than the KC767. Boeing did not bid a KC-777 so we can ignore what
might have been. Now if only the RAF were buying 20 KC30s (which we need NOW) instead of the PFI farce that we are still persisting with.....