A Peek Inside the AOA

Michael Kennedy, one of the principal authors of the RAND Analysis of Alternatives on tanker recapitalization, says the Pentagon soon would release a public summary providing the AOA’s “preferred candidates.” He told lawmakers at the House Armed Services hearing Tuesday night that the options are: Boeing 747, 767, 777, and 787, and Airbus 330 and 340. Speaking with reporters after the hearing, Kennedy added that the study concludes that modifying used aircraft would be inefficient and ultimately more costly. He said full recapitalization is the preferred option. Did a dual use capability—refueling and cargo hauling—factor in the AOA options? No, says Kennedy. However, Rand did calculate that converting any of the options from strictly refueling to both would add about five percent to the total airframe cost.