KC-Y - KC-10 Replacement
The Air Force revised its acquisition strategy in 2007 and planned to recapitalize the aerial tanker fleet by developing three consecutive acquisition programs: KC-X, KC-Y, and KC-Z. The intention of those programs was to represent different tanker aircraft platforms. Air Force staff have described the KC-Y and KC-Z programs as budgetary “off ramps.”
The next tranche to replace the Air Force’s 59 wide-body KC-10 tankers, dubbed KC-Y, is expected around 2020-2024. The first 179 were going to be the KC-X competition. It will start all over again in a few more years. The Air Force will take a look at the 179 aircraft that are on hand. The Air Force will will look at the requirements and then go back in and look at the second tranche, known as the KC-Y. The plan calls for procurement of 15 KC-Ys a year from 2024-36, then nine KC-Zs a year until 2048.
