L3Harris Proposes Upgrade for Century-Old KC-135 Tanker

L3Harris Technologies has proposed an upgrade to keep the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker flying beyond 2050. The US Air Force expects to maintain the tanker in service for at least another three decades, with some aircraft approaching a century since manufacture.

The company's proposal would modernize the cockpit with digital equipment and introduce an open architecture designed to simplify future upgrades. This could reduce dependence on individual suppliers and address the declining availability of replacement parts for existing avionics.

L3Harris has experience modifying aircraft from the C-135 family, having completed mission-system upgrades for US Air Force and UK Royal Air Force variants.