The correct question is BEagle's - why the hell didn't we specify booms on the A330 tankers? It would've supported the E-3Ds, C-17s and now the Rivet Joints. More importantly, it would have provided a significant UK addition to coalition ops (especially those minus the US), and if we'd have thought just a bit more, we could even have specified a UARRSI port on the tankers themselves. Who'd've thunk it?!?
S41