How Do The KC-46, KC-135 & KC-130 Compare?

Direct air-to-air refueling stands as one of the most influential advances in aerial warfare of all time, as it has drastically changed the range that air forces like the United States Air Force can cover and maintain air superiority over. While flashy fighter jets like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II have captured headlines because of their innovative nature, large aerial tankers support these fighters, keeping them in the skies for long stretches at a time. Long-range strategic bombers like the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit are also well-known, while the tankers that support these aircraft on their extended bombing raids often go unnoticed.