TY - BOOK ID - 85240433 TI - The vital link : the tanker's role in winning America's wars AU - Cohen, David M. AU - Air University (U.S.). PY - 2001 SN - 1435611985 9781435611986 1585660884 PB - Maxwell Air Force Base, AL : Air University Press, DB - UniCat KW - KC-135 (Tanker aircraft) KW - Airtankers (Military science) KW - Air Forces KW - Military & Naval Science KW - Law, Politics & Government KW - Aerial tankers (Military science) KW - Tanker aircraft (Military science) KW - Airplanes KW - Airplanes, Military KW - Military art and science KW - Boeing KC-135 (Tanker aircraft) KW - Boeing Stratotanker KW - Stratotanker (Tanker aircraft) KW - Boeing airplanes KW - Transport planes KW - Air refueling KW - E-books UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:85240433 AB - This paper focuses on the unique and vital capabilities of the US Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet. It analyzes historic and current tanker usage, tanker operational employment, and the capability of today's tanker fleet, with emphasis on force structure and force management. In light of decreasing budgets, aging airframes, increase downtime for maintenance, and an explosion in the operations tempo, this paper proposes a four-pronged methodology addressing tanker vision, organization, training and employment, as the correction needed to get the KC-135 weapon system back on centerline. This will allow the tanker to effectively aid the Air Force in successfully deterring conflict and, if needed, quickly win the nation's future wars. ER -