Refueling tankers and 220 personnel head to Eielson after 10 years of work by Sen. Dan Sullivan

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan has announced that his years of work have finally paid off in getting Air Force refueling tankers to Alaska. The U.S. Air Force will station four KC-135 refueling aircraft at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks. This long-awaited decision fulfills a commitment made by the Air Force in March 2021, but delayed for over three years.

The announcement came after persistent advocacy from Sullivan, who has spent more than a decade urging senior military officials to address Alaska’s aerial refueling capability gap. The KC-135 aircraft are critical for supporting Alaska’s growing fleet of fighter jets and securing U.S. airspace amidst increasing threats from adversaries.

“The Air Force has dramatically increased the fighter assets in Alaska in recent years, yet the necessary supporting refueling force has remained stagnant,” Sen. Sullivan said in a statement. “This strain on our refueling mission is unacceptable given the critical importance of Alaska as the hub of air combat power for the Arctic and entire Indo-Pacific, and the increasing aggression from our adversaries off Alaska’s coastline.”

Alaska is home to the largest concentration of fifth-generation fighters in the world, with 54 F-35A fighter jets based at Eielson Air Force Base, in addition to the state’s F-16 Aggressor Squadron and six F-22s stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. These assets are essential for responding to a surge in incursions into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, including six incidents this year alone.

One of the most significant threats occurred in July, when Alaska-based F-16s and F-35s, along with Canadian CF-18s, intercepted a joint Russian-Chinese bomber formation of aircraft off Alaska’s coast, the first time such coordination between Russia and China had been observed near Alaska.

Decade of Advocacy Pays Off

Sen. Sullivan has repeatedly highlighted the need for additional refueling capacity to support Alaska’s unique operational demands. The state’s vast training ranges, harsh environment, and the long distances required to intercept potential threats make aerial refueling a cornerstone of its defense strategy.

“The KC-135 tankers are not just an upgrade—they are a necessity,” Sullivan said. “Over the course of just two months this year, Alaska-based Airmen intercepted six incursions into the ADIZ, each requiring a nearly 2,000-mile roundtrip sortie. These aircraft will ensure we have the resources to respond to escalating threats from adversaries like Russia and China.”

Sullivan’s advocacy included pressing every Secretary of Defense and Air Force since his election to the Senate, as well as hosting numerous high-ranking officials in Alaska to witness the state’s strategic importance firsthand.

Timeline of Delays

In March 2021, the Air Force committed to basing four KC-135 tankers at Eielson by fiscal year 2023. However, the delivery was repeatedly delayed, prompting Sullivan to write a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall on October 8, 2024, expressing frustration over the delay.

In his letter, Sullivan emphasized the strain on Alaska’s refueling operations and the urgent need to deliver on promises made three years earlier.

Local Community impacts

The arrival of the KC-135s will also bring 220 active-duty personnel and their families to Eielson Air Force Base.

“This is a win for Alaska and America’s national security,” Sullivan said. “We look forward to welcoming these critical aircraft, personnel, and their families to our great state and continuing to strengthen our nation’s defense posture in this vital region.”

With this long-overdue decision, Alaska further solidifies its role as a linchpin in U.S. military strategy for the Arctic and Indo-Pacific regions.