USTRANSCOM Fiscal Year 2021 Unfunded Priorities List
Priority USTRANSCOM FY21 Unfunded Priorities Appn BLI PE TY$M
1 Aerial Refueling
KC-135 3400 1F-011M 0401218F 18.4
KC-135 3740 1F-011M 0501421F 6.6
KC-135 3840 1F-011M 0501411F 15.0
Subtotal: KC-135 40.0
KC-10 3400 1F-011M 0401219F 54.4
KC-10 3740 1F-011M 0502721F 15.6
Subtotal: KC-10 70.0
TOTAL Aerial Refueling Capacity 110.0
USTRANSCOM Fiscal Year 2021 Unfunded Priorities List Description
1. Aerial Refueling - $110.0M
SUBJECT: USTRANSCOM #1 Unfunded Priority List: Aerial Refueling (AR)
DISCUSSION: USAF PB21 Program Balance Decision imposes additional KC-10/KC-135
cuts in FY21 (10 x KC-10 and 13 x KC-135) and further reductions in FY22 and beyond, prior to
the projected availability of operational KC-46 aircraft. This creates a capacity bathtub with
significant impacts to Combatant Command wartime and daily competition missions and
negatively impacts senior leader decision space for mobilization if confronted with a crisis.
USTRANSCOM seeks to reverse this outcome for FY21 and buy back the 10 x KC-10 and 13 x
KC-135 aircraft. For FY22 and beyond, any further AR aircraft reductions would be on a “year-
by-year review,” based on KC-46 progress. The expected cost of buying back this critical
capability is approximately $110M.
RECOMMENDATION: For FY21, buy back 10 x KC-10 and 13 x KC-135 aircraft at a cost of
approximately $110M.
USTRANSCOM Fiscal Year 2021 Unfunded Priorities List
Priority USTRANSCOM FY21 Unfunded Priorities Appn BLI PE TY$M
2 Surge Ship Readiness 1804 02-2A1F 0408042N $85.1
USTRANSCOM Fiscal Year 2021 Unfunded Priorities List Description
2. Surge Sealift - Readiness - $85.1M
Provides funding to address maintenance backlog for 15 Military Sealift Command operated
sealift ships. Includes full funding of (4) 5-year regulatory drydocking overhauls for
SHUGHART, YANO, GORDON and KOCAK and class maintenance, spare parts and
obsolescence prevention for all ships.
