Military

Air Guard unit at Eielson gets four more air-refueling planes, support

KUAC | By Tim Ellis

Published April 12, 2026 at 9:36 PM AKDT

The four additional K-135 Stratotankers are now situated among the 168th Wing's other air-refueling aircraft. — There are now a dozen K-135 Stratotankers parked in Tanker Row, in front of the 168th Wing's hangar at Eielson Air Force Base.

Air Force to support additional air-refueling demand by assigning 200 more service members to Eielson

After the recent arrival of four more aerial-refueling planes, the Alaska Air National Guard’s 168^th Wing now has a dozen of the tankers parked at Eielson Air Force Base. The Air Force also plans to assign an additional 200 active-duty service members to Eielson to support the new aircraft.

The four KC-135 Stratotankers arrived earlier this month, and Eielson personnel are checking them over to ensure they’re ready to begin regular service, says Air Guard Senior Master Sergeant Julie Avey. She’s a spokesperson for the 168^th Wing that operates the tankers.

The four additional tankers will be rotated into use along with other the eight others to meet the growing need for air-refueling support.

“We have them out on the Tanker Row,” she said. “We have our maintenance folks already starting to take a look at them and work them into the rotation, so they are ready to be deployed out, as needed.”

Avey says the new aircraft will bolster the 168^th Wing’s ability to keep aircraft refueled during long-duration missions around the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific region.

“Those four additional tankers are just to increase our air-refueling capabilities that are currently needed to sustain the mission, Avey said.

“So, we’re already working 24/7 operations. And with that comes additional aircraft and people that are needed just to sustain what we’re already doing.”

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan says the mission has become more urgent in recent years, partly because of the growing need to refuel Alaska-based fighter jets and reconnaissance planes that track and intercept Russian aircraft flying through international airspace around the state.

Sullivan said in a recent news release that Russian and Chinese aircraft and ships have become “increasingly aggressive” in the skies and waters around Alaska.

Avey said that’s just one facet of the 168^th Wing’s mission. “The aircraft are engaged with all sorts of military aircraft.”

She says the Air Force plans to bring 200 service members to Eielson to help operate and maintain the four additional KC-135s. But the agency hasn’t yet announced when they and their family members will arrive.

“We will have some family members, “she said. “But we don't have an idea of what that looks like at this time.”

It’s likely that some will live on Eielson, as space is available, and some will live in outlying areas around the base.