posted on May, 8 2007 @ 08:20 AM
The current USAF "Air Mobility Master Plan" calls for the retirement of the C-141 transport by the year 2006 and retirement of the KC-135 tankers to
begin in 2013. These 700+ aircraft, 80% of the current mobility fleet, are now 25 to 30 years old and are experiencing fatigue and corrosion problems
leading to low availability rates. The C-141B represents 35% of the current US strategic airlift capability while the KC-135 comprises 90% of the
tanker fleet. Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems (LMAS) is studying a new family of mid-size jet transport aircraft, called the New Strategic
Aircraft (NSA), to meet U.S. DOD, international, and commercial requirements.The goal of the NSA program is to develop the standard long range
mobility aircraft for the first half of the 21st century. The basic NSA airframe will be a commercially certified aircraft with provisions for modular
components and systems to allow the aircraft to evolve to meet changing requirements and missions. This modular, all-purpose aircraft will be a low
cost, low maintenance support plane that all branches of the Armed forces will eventually be able to use.
Anyone know anything else about this?