Air Force officials say they'll seek alternative tanker upgrades

An Air Force spokesman reaffirmed Thursday the services' commitment to studying alternatives for upgrading its aging tanker fleet.

"For the record, the Air Force is as committed to an analysis of alternatives on future tankers as it is to the recapitalizing its aging tanker fleet in order to provide necessary capabilities to the joint warfighter," the statement said.

That effort may go through the normal procurement process for a replacement for the existing KC-135 tanker fleet, or "depending on the outcome of the current reviews directed by the Secretary of Defense, through the lease/purchase program that was signed into law late last year," it said.

In any case, the Air Force said the analysis of alternatives authorized by that fiscal 2004 defense authorization law "will be critical in shaping decisions for the long-term recapitalization of the fleet."