MODIFICATION OF MINIMUM INVENTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR REFUELING TANKER AIRCRAFT.

SEC. 141. MODIFICATION OF MINIMUM INVENTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR REFUELING TANKER AIRCRAFT. (a) Minimum Inventory Requirement.—Section 9062(j) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking “a total aircraft inventory of air refueling tanker aircraft of not less than 466 aircraft.” and inserting“a total aircraft inventory of air refueling tanker aircraft— “(A) of not less than 466 aircraft during the period ending on September 30, 2026; “(B) of not less than 478 aircraft during the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on September 30, 2027; “(C) of not less than 490 aircraft during the period beginning on October 1, 2027, and ending on September 30, 2028; and “(D) of not less than 502 aircraft beginning on October 1, 2028.” ; and (2) in paragraph (2), by striking “below 466” and inserting “below the applicable level specified in paragraph (1)”. (b) Retention Within Aircraft Inventory.—Such section is further amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking “paragraph (2)” and inserting “paragraphs (2) and (3)”; (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: “(3) In the case of a KC-135 aircraft that is replaced in the aircraft inventory by a KC-46 aircraft, the Secretary of the Air Force may reassign the KC-135 aircraft to any Air Refueling Wing that has the capacity to expand its aircraft inventory to include such reassigned aircraft. In determining whether an Air Refueling Wing has the capacity to so expand its inventory, the Secretary shall consider, among other things, the capacity of the Air Refueling Wing to man the additional aircraft and support pilot training requirements for the additional aircraft.” . (c) Prohibition on Reduction of KC-135 Aircraft in Primary Mission Aircraft Inventory of the Reserve Components.— (1) In general.—None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Air Force may be obligated or expended to reduce the number of KC-135 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory within the reserve components of the Air Force. (2) Primary mission aircraft inventory defined.—In this subsection, the term “primary mission aircraft inventory” has the meaning given that term in section 9062(i)(2)(B) of title 10, United States Code.