Israeli defense officials have been told that the US will not be able to supply it with new refueling tankers until late 2024, the New York Times reports, possibly putting a damper on any plans to carry out an airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities before then.
According to the paper, Defense Minister Benny Gantz asked US counterpart Lloyd Austin if he could hurry up an order of Boeing KC-46 refueling planes when they met last week, but instead was told to cool his jets, as production backlogs meant the planes could not be delivered for several years.
While Austin told Gantz he would work to alleviate the delay, the US Air Force is also champing for the new tankers to bolster its Pacific presence, the Times reports.
A US Air Force Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling plane connects to a F-35 fighter jet over California, January 22, 2019. (US Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)
The tankers, which will replace an aging fleet, are seen as a key element for Israeli planes to be able to make it to Iran and back without needing to stop to refuel, should it decide to embark on a military strike.
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