USAF considers 'very large' autonomous tankers to replace KC-135 and KC-46 fleets

The U.S. Air Force is exploring the development of large-scale, fully autonomous aerial refueling tankers to eventually replace its aging KC-135 and KC-46 fleets. Inspired by the progress of the Navy’s Boeing MQ-25 Stingray drone, Air Force officials are evaluating the feasibility of scaling unmanned flight technology to handle the massive fuel capacity and range requirements of strategic tankers. While current autonomous systems are limited in size and range, the Air Force is actively researching advanced refueling systems. Concurrently, companies like Merlin Labs are working on autonomous flight software for the C-130J, aiming to integrate pilot-assist technology before transitioning to fully unmanned operations. Despite these ambitions, officials acknowledge that significant hurdles remain, particularly regarding certification, safety, and the engineering challenges of building an autonomous aircraft of such magnitude. The transition remains a long-term goal as the service shifts its budget focus toward advanced refueling capabilities.