The KC-135 Stratotanker has been a workhorse in the United States Air Force (USAF) fleet for more than six decades.

Since its first flight in 1956, the Stratotanker has provided unparalleled aerial refueling capabilities, extending the reach of US and allied combat aircraft.

With over 800 built and decades of experience refueling F-16 Fighting Falcons, the KC-135 can directly support over 2,145 F-16s operated by more than 25 allies worldwide.

By extending the range of one of the world's most in-demand fighter aircraft, the Stratotanker underscores its strategic importance in international defense partnerships.

A proven asset, the KC-135 is expected to remain in the USAF inventory for another 40 years.

In this year's exercise Bright Star 2025, the Stratotanker will demonstrate sustained air operations and precise aerial refueling of F-16s.

Technical capabilities

With an impressive legacy in the USAF fleet, the KC-135 has been providing aerial refueling support to US Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nation aircraft at altitudes up to 30,000 feet, routinely demonstrating why its capabilities are timeless.

Weighing up to 146,300kg at takeoff, the Stratotanker can carry a substantial combination of passengers, cargo, and fuel.

Its cargo deck, situated above the refueling system, is designed to accommodate mixed loads of personnel and equipment.

Depending on the fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry over 37,600kg of cargo, while its maximum transfer fuel load is 90,700kg.

Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the Stratotanker's primary fuel transfer method, the flying boom.

One crewmember, known as the boom operator, is stationed at the rear of the Stratotanker and controls the boom during aerial refueling, precisely maneuvering it to transfer fuel to receiver aircraft.

For aircraft equipped with probes, a specialized shuttlecock-shaped drogue attached to and trailing behind the flying boom enables seamless refueling.

Some aircraft have been fitted with a multipoint refueling system, which consists of special pods mounted on the wingtips.

These KC-135s are capable of refueling two receiver aircraft simultaneously.

According to a fact sheet by the USAF, Air Mobility Command maintains an inventory of 396 Stratotankers.

ACE compatible

The KC-135 plays a crucial role in the USAF's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, which emphasizes rapid deployment and operations from dispersed, austere locations.

Its global refueling capability and support for multiple aircraft at once enhance USAF operational flexibility and air superiority.

The ACE concept seeks to disperse power, decentralizing it from large, centralized bases to networks of smaller or cluster bases to increase survivability and maximize tactical advantages.

The KC-135 proved its importance in the ACE concept during Operation Agile Spartan 25.1, a US Central Command exercise held earlier this year.