Keep America’s tankers flying

OPINION:

America’s enemies are watching the skies. They know our power does not come only from stealth fighters, long-range bombers or cargo planes. It also comes from the ability to keep them flying far and fighting. That ability is now in jeopardy.

For more than 70 years, aerial refueling has been the silent force multiplier for American power. From the Cold War to the fight against terrorism, tankers have allowed U.S. forces to deter aggression in Asia, reassure allies in Europe and strike terrorists in the Middle East with impunity. Without tankers, our aircraft are grounded. Without tankers, our global reach evaporates. Without tankers, America is vulnerable.

Yet today, the U.S. faces an alarming shortfall in this critical capability. The retirement of the KC-10 fleet, our workhorse tanker, has left combatant commands short of options. The Indo-Pacific, where China is rapidly expanding its air power, demands longer flight ranges and greater fuel capacity than ever before. Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on, testing NATO’s resolve. Iran and its terrorist proxies continue to destabilize the Middle East. At precisely the moment when tankers are most vital, we have fewer of them.

This is not a minor gap; it is a strategic crisis. Deterrence depends on reach, and reach depends on refueling. If our adversaries believe America cannot respond quickly and decisively, they will test us. That is how wars begin.

Here is the hard truth: The Pentagon’s industrial base procurement cycle cannot solve this problem fast enough. New tankers will take years, if not decades, to arrive in the numbers required. That leaves America with a dangerous window of vulnerability.

There is an “America First” solution that strengthens national defense while being fiscally responsible: harnessing the power of the private sector.

Civilian aerial refueling is not a theoretical concept; it is a well-established and reliable capability. Private companies have the capacity to support U.S. and allied military missions, leveraging experienced former military pilots and proven aircraft. The infrastructure, training and operational expertise are already in place to deliver this critical capability safely and effectively.

The next step is clear. The U.S. should establish a civil reserve tanker fleet, loosely modeled after the Civil Reserve Air Fleet that has supported military mobility for decades. Under this program, civilian-operated tankers would be available to surge in times of crisis or war, filling gaps without burdening taxpayers with the cost of a permanently expanded Air Force fleet.

The path forward is practical and immediate. Instead of auctioning off retired KC-10s for scrap or permanently sending KC-135s or C-130 tanker variants to decay in the aircraft boneyard, these aircraft should be recommissioned by qualified private operators who have the facilities, spare parts and contracts already in place. This would deliver a surge in capacity now, not 10 years from now, at a fraction of the cost of new procurement.

The advantages are undeniable. Refurbished tankers could be flying missions to the Indo-Pacific and Europe almost immediately, giving U.S. forces the global reach they need at the pace of today’s threat demand. Partnering with the private sector would save taxpayers billions of dollars while putting fully mission-ready aircraft and seasoned crews in the fight. At the same time, allies such as Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Finland and our NATO partners, which rely on seamless interoperability with U.S. forces, would gain expanded support and strengthened deterrence. By establishing a Civil Reserve Tanker Fleet, America secures surge capacity in wartime without the burden of permanently growing the government fleet.

This approach is firmly grounded in the “America First” principle that national security must be strong, smart and sustainable. A bloated defense budget does not guarantee readiness. Strategic partnerships with proven private operators can deliver immediate capability, fiscal discipline and deterrent strength.

The world is not becoming safer. China, Russia and Iran are watching for any sign of weakness. A shortage of tankers is one of the clearest pressure points in U.S. readiness today. If we fail to act, we risk emboldening adversaries and entangling America in conflicts we could have deterred.

Keeping America’s tankers flying is not a luxury; it is a necessity. By building a civil reserve tanker fleet, we can close the gap, strengthen deterrence and ensure that our allies and adversaries alike know one thing: America can and will project power on our terms.

The hour is late. The solution is at hand. All that remains is the will to act.

• The Honorable Robert Wilkie served as the 10th secretary of veterans affairs and as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness in the first Trump administration.