Will the Airbus A-330 MRTT replace or Supplement the KC-135 in the Tanker Role ?
Whether or not to expand the tanker fleet is at the disposal of the air force. In my opinion, it should be expanded. But the fleet organization, ground services and economics of this fleet are issues that are beyond my knowledge. A-330 MRT and KC-135s, they are both NATO standard tanker aircraft and the MRTTs have the same boom system that we already use. But these are just speculations, it must be emphasized again and again. We are discussing in the forum environment. While we are at it, let's open up these possibilities a bit:
The Turkish air force's tanker fleet must be one of the most important issues that the US, despite the problematic process in recent years, does not cause much trouble due to the NATO security concept. Therefore, perhaps if the US KC-46 is requested, maybe progress can be made in this regard. In any case, I am in favor of gradually becoming less dependent on US logistics, not only on the combat side, but especially on the logistics and support classes.
101 Asena fleet has 7 KC-135s that have upgraded to the Block 45-1 configuration. Even though the airframes are old, actually we have a very capable tanker fleet. On the other hand, if we start the MRTT program in 2024, it will take a long time to receive fleet-sized aircraft, and there is no such concrete step, we are only speculating currently.
But I think the general opinion that almost all of us share is that the A-330 MRTT would be the most logical choice in many respects. Turkish Airlines has a very significant number of A-330s that it is removing and can remove from its passenger aircraft fleet. Moreover, as can be seen in the news above, the P2F conversions of these aircraft will be realized within THY Technic. There is a very serious cost opportunity.
MRTT conversion takes place at Airbus' Toulouse facilities. However, there is also the following situation: THY Technic becomes a competent MRO for the A-330s, and on the other hand, ASFAT has an important capability such as the FASBAT Retrofit Center for the A400Ms, which is the main cargo aircraft of the Air Force, and this can be extended to the A-330s.
If additional KC-135s are considered for the air force, it seems that military aid type procurement from the US under NATO is a thing of the past. I think that the next tanker aircraft will be brand-new or converted aircraft with a fuselage that can be considered new. So there are actually 2 options. I don't know what kind of a chance we have for the KC-46 right now. Even if there is no political problem, there is already a serious order book and the cost is really high.
No matter how I calculate according to my own logic, the A-330s that THY is removing from the fleet seem to be the most logical choice. Of course, there is FR-TR relations if you go MRTT option, which should not be ignored. TAF is not a boutique air force, it is one of the most important elements of NATO, and each acquisition is astronomical, and that actually has a leverage effect, no matter how problems happened past.