US rejects Israel's request for refueling tanker aircraft as Iran quietly smiles

The Biden administration has rejected an Israeli request to expedite the delivery of two refueling tanker aircraft which have been ordered by the Jewish State. This comes amid a possible military option against Iran's nuclear weapons plan moves forward. [H/T Jerusalem Post]

Senior Israel Air Force officers requested in October that the four KC-46 tanker aircraft be sped up, and asked that two of them be delivered immediately as Iran's plan to destroy Israel seemed to be looming on the horizon. The officers asked that the other two aircraft be delivered within two to three years.

The US State Department approved the sale of up to eight KC-46 tankers and related support equipment to Israel for an estimated cost of $2.4 billion last March, a first in which Washington gave the okay for Israel to purchase new tankers.

The IAF was ready to receive two of the Boeing-made support aircraft by late 2023. When then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last visited Washington, he discussed his hope that two of the eight planes could be delivered the following year.

Currently, Israel flies the Ram, (Boeing 707) tanker plane but they're almost 60-years-old and it's time to replace them. These planes, whose number remains confidential, are used both for refueling fighter jets and for transport but were grounded last year.

The KC-46 can shoot 1,200 gallon of fuel per minute using a 55-foot extending boom and can feed three fighter jets simultaneously in under four minutes. The tankers have a range of almost 12,000 km and can unload 207,000 pounds of fuel with the ability to service 64 different kinds of aircraft.

* * *

Why not subscribe to Brain Flushings and check out the ads on these pages. It costs nothing to subscribe and it's worth every penny. And remember, every time you click on an ad, you help in the fight against the tech giants.

* * *

If Iran starts a conflict with Israel, it's imperative the IAF has the ability to be able to strike back and the KC-46 gives them that ability as fighter planes need to travel thousands of miles in each direction.

During a recent visit to the US, Defense Minister Benny Gantz updated American officials that he had set a deadline for when the IDF will need to complete preparations for an attack against Iran. There was no US veto to Israel's plans, according to a senior diplomatic source.

The US and Israel are reportedly planning large joint exercises to prepare for a possible strike against Iran's nuclear program.

Hopefully the Biden administration will change its collective mind and sell the KC-46 to Israel.

Tweet