The demands placed on Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aerial refueling tankers have outpaced United States Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM) ability to organize, train, and equip the current forces to accomplish their mission. This paper asks the question How will AFSOC meet the requirements for helicopter aerial refueling in the 2007 to 2012 timeframe? In order to place this question in context a short history of USSOCOM, AFSOC, and helicopter aerial refueling is presented first. Then this paper evaluates the predicted security environment of 2007 to 2012 and the expected shortfalls in AFSOC tanker capabilities. The need to go deep with precision is explored, as well as expected solutions to tanker shortages. Suggestions for improvement to the predicted situation include accelerating the refueling modification of the MC-130H aircraft and purchasing 28 additional aircraft to increase the number of tanker assets. Secondly, the MC-130P should be modified with additional defensive equipment to transition to a penetrating tanker status since they are already conducting operations over enemy territory with increased risk. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
