The U.S. Presents Stealth Tanker Aircraft Concept

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has revealed a concept for stealthy tanker aircraft to solve the issue of survivable tankers in the future. For years, the USAF and naval aviation have been working to create low-observable tankers that can operate in A2/AD environments. The latter came up with the carrier-based MQ-25 unmanned tanker with low observability features, but this design can’t be described as sufficient for the former because tankers like KC-135 dwarf it in range and fuel capacity. The Drive has reported that this new tanker with stealth features is being developed under the Next Generation Air-Refuelling System programme. A rendering of the tanker was released, including a tanker with an angled fuselage, only vertical fins, and an F-35 being refuelled by the tanker. No planned technical specifications have been released. With the USAF operating with F-35 and F-22, and the promising developments from the NGAD programme, a stealthy tanker is not just a luxury but a strategic necessity for the future, with all aircraft bearing this common trait. Because of the engine arrangement, the tanker will retain the boom-type refuelling system with a central mount instead of a tail one. In addition to refuelling, the tanker may have secondary roles like electronic warfare and UAV control. The latter has been tested by the USAF with existing tankers to explore the idea of a tanker defending itself with UAVs. However, Skunk Works isn’t the only future tanker idea. JetZero, known for its work in the bid body-wing aircraft, which offer increased lifting performance due to the body and wing being virtually the same, is also offering this concept for air-to-air refuelling.