Pentagon Sends KC-135 Tanker Refueling Aircraft to Poland & Romania

Video Above: Would a “No-Fly” Zone Create Massive World War III with Russia?

*Article was published in March and is being republished for viewer interest

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

Tanker-supported fighter jets are able to massively extend “dwell time” over target areas to respond to new target information and pursue multiple target locations on a single attack sortie, and tankers of course greatly lengthen the combat radius for attack aircraft seeking to reach otherwise inaccessible target areas.

These factors are likely a large reason why the Pentagon is now sending a number of US-based KC-135 Tanker aircraft to Poland and Romania on NATO’s Eastern Flank. 

KC-135 Tanker Refueling Aircraft

These tankers could, for instance, enable a land-launched F-35A to double its combat radius of roughly 250 to 300 miles. This makes enemy forces operating in areas of Ukraine, Russia and of course Eastern Europe much more vulnerable to US and NATO air attack, should that somehow become necessary.

Deterrence on NATO’s Eastern Flank is the way Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby explained it, adding that there has been no change to President Biden’s decision that no US forces will fight in Ukraine.