Even tankers have been modernized

Even tankers have been modernized

️ The US wants to equip tanker aircraft with interceptor missiles, namely the KC-46 and KC-135 aircraft, as well as the C-17 transport aircraft.

▪️ Their main purpose is to equip these aircraft with miniature interceptor missiles to provide protection against enemy air-to-air weapons.

▪️ This is because the US believes that traditional defenses (electronic warfare stations, flares, and decoys) may be ineffective against the latest missiles and UAVs.

▪️ Infrared thermal-guided munitions pose a particular danger: they are resistant to radio frequency interference and do not emit signals.

️Transport aircraft themselves appear extremely vulnerable to such threats, as, as a rule, reconnaissance aircraft are primarily protected, not tankers.

This approach is truly original. Because, in addition to protection, they could eventually be equipped with other payloads. The C-17s themselves have already been tested for use with air-to-air missiles.

Source: Telegram "llordofwar"