Research Catalog

Title

Upgrading the Extender : which options are cost-effective for modernizing the KC-10? / Anthony D. Rosello ... [et al.].

Publication

Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 2011.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

Rosello, Anthony D.

Description

xxi, 81 p. : col. ill.; 28 cm.

Summary

"The U.S. Air Force's KC-10 air refueling fleet has been in operation since 1981 without significant modernization. The Air Force is considering upgrades to the KC-10 in several areas: avionics, command and control, multipoint refueling, defensive systems, and compatibility with night-vision systems. To be cost-effective, an upgrade must return a benefit that outweighs its cost over the lifetime of the fleet. For some options, this calculation depends heavily on the KC-10's mission mix, the type of role it plays (refueling only, airlift only, or dual-role), distance from base, and the number of fighters it must refuel. An assessment of options to upgrade the KC-10 -- specifically, to add a tactical data link, advanced avionics, additional multipoint refueling capability, a suite of defensive systems, and lighting that is compatible with night-vision devices -- weighed the costs and potential benefits of the upgrades against demands in homeland defense, theater employment, deployment, and air bridge operations and other KC-10 roles. The tactical data link, avionics upgrade, and additional multipoint refueling capability were the most cost-effective options. Defensive system upgrades could be cost-effective with the right mission mix and KC-10 role. The findings show that the night vision-compatible lighting upgrade would not be cost-effective for the KC-10. The full avionics upgrade analysis is documented Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Modernizing the KC-10 to Meet Global Air Traffic Management Mandates."--RAND website.

Subject

• KC-10 (Tanker aircraft) > Evalution
• United States. Air Force > Evaluation

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

• Machine generated contents note: ch. One Introduction -- General Approach -- Establishing Modernization Options -- Determining the Benefits Provided -- Expected Missions of the KC-10 -- Profile of the KC-10 Fleet -- Organization of This Report -- ch. Two Benefits of Modernization -- Benefits That Affect the Number of Tankers Required for Wartime Missions -- Aerial Refueling Orbits Farther Forward -- Tanker Bases Closer to Aerial Refueling Orbits -- More Efficient Planning and Operations -- Faster Receiver Cycle Times -- Other Military Mission Improvements -- Reduced Attrition -- Increased Mission Range or Time on Station for Receiver Aircraft -- Airlift Augmentation -- Relay Augmentation -- Summary.
• Ch. Three KC-10 Warfighting Missions -- Homeland Defense -- Theater Employment -- Deployment -- Tanker Profile -- Fighter Profile -- Air Bridge -- Missions, Modernization Areas, and Benefits -- KC-10 Mission Allocation -- Summary -- ch. Four Valuing KC-10 Modernization Options -- Upgrade Costs -- Valuing Wartime Effectiveness -- Valuing Improvements to Aircraft Reliability, Maintainability, and Safety -- Summary -- ch. Five Tactical Data Link -- Background -- Upgrade Costs -- Valuing Wartime Effectiveness -- Other Operational Benefits -- Tactical Data Link Cost-Benefit Summary -- ch. Six Additional Multipoint Refueling Capability -- Background -- Upgrade Costs -- Valuing Wartime Effectiveness -- Deployment Mission -- Employment Mission -- Other Operational Benefits -- Additional Multipoint Refueling Capability Cost-Benefit Summary.
• Ch. Seven Defensive Systems -- Background -- Missile Protection -- Crew Protection -- Fuel Tank Protection -- Upgrade Costs -- Changes to Peacetime Operations Costs -- Valuing Wartime Effectiveness -- Other Operational Benefits -- Reduced Risk Refueling over High Terrain -- Increased Operation as a Dual-Role Tanker or Airlifter -- Defensive Systems Cost-Benefit Summary -- ch. Eight Night Vision Imaging System-Compatible Lighting -- Background -- Upgrade Costs -- Changes to Peacetime Operations Costs -- Valuing Wartime Effectiveness -- Discounted Hypotheses -- Night Vision Imaging System-Compatible Lighting Cost-Benefit Summary -- ch. Nine Conclusions.

ISBN

• 9780833051097 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 0833051091 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2011000775

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library