Airbus "Urgent Need for Additional Aerial Refueling Aircraft" [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Urgent Need for Additional Procurement of F-35 Stealth and KF-21
Even with Next Year's Budget, Introduction Possible by 2030

There are concerns that the number of aerial refueling aircraft possessed by our Air Force is woefully insufficient. Aerial refueling aircraft serve as a "gas station in the sky," refueling fighter jets mid-air. They are considered a "strategic asset" because they enhance operational capability by increasing the fighter jets' range and extending their loiter time.

On the 19th, Chantal Jonscher, Senior Vice President of Airbus Europe, met with reporters from the Ministry of National Defense at the Defense Convention in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and emphasized, "To guarantee Air Force strength, the number of aerial refueling aircraft must be increased to maintain the 'ratio of aerial refueling aircraft to receiver aircraft.'" She added, "The Republic of Korea Air Force needs to possess 10 aerial refueling aircraft for its combat power to play a key role in the Kill Chain."

Having aerial refueling aircraft significantly increases the mission radius, loiter time, and armament capacity of fighter jets. For example, the F-15K can operate for about 30 minutes from Dokdo and about 20 minutes from Ieodo, while the KF-16 can operate for about 10 minutes from Dokdo and about 5 minutes from Ieodo. However, with aerial refueling, operational time is extended by about one hour.

The military completed a feasibility study last August and planned to purchase two additional aerial refueling aircraft from overseas by 2029 with a total project cost of 1.2 trillion KRW. The four aerial refueling aircraft introduced in the first phase are insufficient for operational needs. Furthermore, with the additional introduction of F-35 stealth fighters and KF-21s, more aerial refueling aircraft will be required. Currently, one aerial refueling aircraft in our Air Force must refuel 58 fighter jets, which is significantly higher compared to Australia (35 receiver aircraft per refueler), the UK (18), France (27), and the US (9).

The KC-330 aerial refueling aircraft, first introduced in 2018, has also served as a transport aircraft. The KC-330 is a converted Airbus A330-200 passenger aircraft modified for aerial refueling. Utilizing this capability, it has played a major role in transporting COVID-19 vaccines, the "Miracle Operation" to bring local Afghan allies to Korea, the emergency airlift of urea solution, and recently, the controversial mission to repatriate the remains of General Hong Beom-do.

It has a fuselage length of 58.80m, wingspan of 60.3m, height of 17.4m, maximum takeoff weight of 233,000 kg, maximum speed of Mach 0.86 (1,053 km/h), maximum fuel capacity with a range of 15,320 km, and a maximum operating altitude of 41,500 ft. In addition to carrying over 100 tons of fuel for aerial refueling, it can simultaneously transport about 40 tons of cargo and more than 300 troops. When used for medical evacuation, it can be equipped with 130 beds to perform medical functions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.