The U.S. should not outsource its mid-air refueling tankers production to the Dutch aerospace manufacturer Airbus, said conservative talk radio host and Washington Times columnist Rick Amato in a recent piece for PJ Media, because U.S. national security demands that the nation manufacture its own military armaments at home.
“We have prevented a third ‘world war’ since 1945 by promising to protect the world with our troops and our money. We remain the world’s military supplier today,” wrote Amato. “From Taiwan to Ukraine to Israel, America supplies the weapons that make a difference. So why would Americans want to tie ourselves to European weapon suppliers?”
At least 6 KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are currently in transit from the United States to Europe. Originally designed for refueling strategic bombers like the B-2, there is speculation that the U.S. may employ the B-2 in response to potential tensions with Iran. pic.twitter.com/cjJtwjIbxI
— Insider Corner (@insiderscorner) January 29, 2024
Bethesda, Maryland-based aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor Lockheed Martin recently withdrew all bids for a U.S. Air Force contract to build 75 mid-air refueling tankers of the KC-135 model airplane type in the fourth quarter of last year. Meanwhile, European airplane maker Airbus is still working for the contract.
“Airbus remains committed to providing the U.S. Air Force and our warfighters with the most modern and capable tanker on the market and will formally respond to the United States Air Force KC-135 recapitalization request for information,” said an Airbus spokesperson in a statement to Defense News.
“The A330 U.S.-MRTT is a reliable choice for the U.S. Air Force; one that will deliver affordability, proven performance, and unmatched capabilities,” the Airbus spokesperson said. The total order could run to $12 billion, but as Amato notes, Airbus is notorious for going over budget and for schedule delays in completing projects.
B-2 SPIRIT 🔥
Lots of KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft going from US to Europe.
I'm sure several B-2 Spirits fly across the Atlantic as well. The B-2 brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe. pic.twitter.com/CpjYpsf33m
— WORLD AT WAR (@World_At_War_6) January 29, 2024
But even with Lockheed Martin out of the picture, the U.S. has other domestic options for making its air refueling tankers before outsourcing the contract to the Netherlands. The Arlington, Virginia-based Boeing Company could sell more KC-46 Pegasus tankers to the Air Force to meet the service branch’s needs without looking overseas.
“It should go without saying that American weapons need to be designed and built here in the United States. We have provided the weapons that have protected the peace for so long, and we must continue to do so,” said Amato. “Airbus should stick to Europe, and service any customers it can find there.”
