The US Department of Defense pays considerable attention to the unmanned component of the Air Force. The service is considering various options for the use of UAVs. One of these concerns the KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft.
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The US Air Force wants to launch unmanned aerial vehicles with KC-135 aircraft. This form of aerial refueling application was first disclosed in a February 2023 letter from General Mike Minihan, head of Air Mobility Command.
Potentially, each aerial refueling vehicle could carry up to 100 drones on board. The UAVs are used for reconnaissance and to attract enemy anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, drones are used, among other things, to deliver radios or life jackets to pilots who have been hit.
In addition, the US Air Force will use drones as communication relays and for data exchange. This is an important option given the increased repressive capabilities of China and Russia, which are considered potential adversaries of the United States.
Source: War Zone