ARMAMENTS

Lockheed Martin recently unveiled the new strategic tanker aircraft designed to deliver critical capabilities to the U.S Air Force.

So far, the US Navy has 400 KC-135s, 50 KC-46s, and about 40 KC-10s. Lockheed Martin’s new LMXT aerial refueling aircraft is the company’s proposal under the KC-Y program to replace the KC-135s. 

It is intended to serve the needs of the United States for overseas missions as defined by the country’s National Defence Strategy.

LMXT Specifications:

• Wingspan: 60.35 m
• Length: 58.82 m
• Fuel Capacity: 123 tons
• Endurance: 19.5 hours
• Cruise Speed: 0,81 Mach
• Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW): 242 tonnes

The LMXT is compatible with most US Armed Forces aircraft, including the F-35A, F-22, F-16, A-10, B1-B, C-17, E-3, E-7, F-15, and P-8A. The design is based on the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker support (MRTT) aircraft. Through the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) system, it aims to facilitate the dissemination of information and connectivity between various corps at the operational level.

Also read: First aerial refueling of an F/A-18 Super Hornet with an unmanned aerial vehicle is a fact – VIDEO