Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the aerial refueling tankers category.
01 / Overview
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1957–1965
Quantity
803
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
AERIAL REFUELING TANKERS · EARLY COLD WAR
2
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
73
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the aerial refueling tankers category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
- First Flight1956
- Service Entry Year1957
- Crew3
- Primary RoleAerial refueling tanker and transport aircraft
- In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant3MOD.3
- Engine TypeCFM International F108-CF-100
- Number of Engines4
- Thrust (each)61
▣Performance6MOD.6
- Cruise Speed856 km/h
- Top Speed933.327 km/h
- Service Ceiling12,497 m
- Maximum Range14,806 km
- Range with Max Payload7,081 km
- Takeoff Run3,261 m
◇Aerial Refueling2MOD.2
- Aerial TankerYes
- Refueling Method (boom/drogue)flying boom
◆Dimensions & Weights5MOD.5
- Length41.53 m
- Wingspan39.624 m
- Height12.497 m
- Empty Weight55,792 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight122,470 kg
▤Production3MOD.3
- Total Built803
- Operators4
- Variants5
⬢Service History3MOD.3
- Production Start1955
- Production End1965
- Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1957Production started
- 1965Production ended
- 2012First deployment: Arab Winter
69
years in service
8
years in production
803
units produced
7
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
BOEING KC-135 STRATOTANKER · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Inventory5country · 399units
399active
06 / MASS Score
AERIAL REFUELING TANKERS RANKING Aerial Refueling Tankers · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
12AERIAL REFUELING TANKERS2EARLY COLD WAR · AERIAL REFUELING TANKERS630UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS10PERFORMANCE/PRICE · AERIAL REFUELING TANKERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theAerial Refueling Tankerscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE1terms
Aerial tanker: military aircraft equipped to refuel other aircraft in flight using a system of hoses or booms.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources