The solution to the tanker problem the US military keeps finding in Pacific wargames

The US military is concerned about keeping fuel flowing across the Indo-Pacific battlespace, as large tanker aircraft operating from a handful of vulnerable bases may not survive the opening days of a conflict. A 2023 Congressional Research Service report and Pentagon wargames have highlighted the risks of concentrating high-value aircraft at a small number of major installations, which would come under missile attack. The Air Force's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept is built around dispersing forces, but it hasn't typically been applied to refueling operations because large tankers like the KC-135 and KC-46 are limited to certain airfields. Embraer's KC-390 Millennium multimission tanker/transport aircraft is presented as a potential solution, as it can operate from a much larger number of airfields than today's larger strategic tankers. An Embraer analysis shows significantly more locations in the Pacific capable of supporting the KC-390, including military facilities in the Philippines. Stationing refueling assets at smaller airfields aligns with ACE doctrine, reducing the risk that a single strike could disrupt refueling operations. Embraer officials argue that the ability to operate from more runways may be as important as the amount of fuel a tanker can carry.