Clearly, if the RAF wanted protected AT for the airbridge to be provided by Air Tanker, then surely the contract would have stipulated that the aircraft would have been suitably equipped as per the current fleet of TriStars and C17's.
Strangely enough, back at the start of the last decade, DAS for FSTA was a
key user requirement. Obviously some idiot decided to trade it off against cost, time & performance based on some stupid notion that we don't ever put our tankers (for it was a tanker first)
in harms way!!
DFC
Squadron Leader MITCHELL was a flight commander on No 216 Squadron whose role it was to carry out air-to-air refuelling of NATO combat aircraft. On two missions alongside the Serbian border he drew the effusive praise of fighter aircrews for his courageous flying and remaining on station to complete his tasks regardless of the threats to his tanker aircraft. His performance on over 30 missions in support of combat aircraft was outstanding.