Images released on 12/4 show a US KC-135R tanker aircraft landing at Mildenhall air base in England with multiple tape patches on its fuselage. This specialized aluminum aviation tape is used for temporary fixes of non-critical surface damage until the aircraft can undergo full repairs.

"The damage was likely caused by shrapnel. It is highly probable that this was one of the US tanker aircraft damaged after Iran attacked Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia last month," stated Tyler Rogoway, editor of the US military specialized publication *War Zone*.

The KC-135 tanker aircraft at Mildenhall air base, England on 12/4. Video: *Instagram/marklynham*

On 27/2, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Prince Sultan air base, destroying at least one Boeing E-3 early warning aircraft and one KC-135 tanker, while damaging several other aircraft. However, the exact extent of the damage and the impact of the attack on the US military's capabilities in the region remain unclear.

"KC-135 tanker aircraft are valuable assets for the US military, given their high demand and advanced age," Rogoway noted. "The positive aspect of this situation is that US forces are capable of temporarily repairing the KC-135 on-site, which would be crucial if a larger conflict were to erupt in the future."

A KC-135 tanker aircraft flies over Mildenhall air base, England on 12/4. Photo: *TWZ*

Kai Greet, editor of the military specialized publication *Aviationist*, reported that after the attack on Prince Sultan air base, the US withdrew several stored KC-135 aircraft, transferring them to Tinker air base to restore their operational readiness.

"This indicates that some KC-135s damaged in the field will not return to service soon, or perhaps never fly again," Greet commented. "Upon returning to the US, the KC-135 will be inspected and then undergo a major overhaul to repair the damage if feasible and cost-effective."

Central Command (CENTCOM), the agency responsible for US military operations in the Middle East, has not yet commented on information regarding the KC-135.

A KC-135 tanker aircraft with tape on its fuselage at Mildenhall air base, England on 12/4. Photo: *Aviationist*

The KC-135, based on the Boeing 767-80 prototype, entered service in June 1957 and remains operational today, with a total of 803 aircraft produced. The US military is gradually replacing the KC-135 with the KC-46, though this new tanker model has experienced multiple incidents.

A KC-135 aircraft typically has a crew of three people, including two pilots and a boom operator, sometimes with an additional navigator depending on the mission. The aircraft boasts a maximum speed of over 900 km/h and a range of 2,400 km when carrying 68 tons of fuel for aerial refueling.

As of September 2024, the US military possesses 376 KC-135 aircraft: 151 are part of the Air Force, 163 belong to the Air National Guard, and 62 are with the Air Force Reserve. The number of these aircraft ready for combat is not clear.

Nguyen Tien (According to *Aviationist*, *AFP*, *AP*, *War Zone*)