Eielson Air Force Base Gains 4 Refueling Tankers, 200 Personnel

Military expansion adds aerial refueling capacity to Alaska base after years of delays.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:24am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft sitting alone on a tarmac, its fuselage reflecting the warm, golden light of the Alaskan sun, conveying a sense of the strategic importance of this military asset in the remote northern landscape.The arrival of four additional refueling tankers at Eielson Air Force Base strengthens Alaska's growing role in U.S. military operations in the Arctic and North Pacific.Fairbanks Today

Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska has received four additional KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft, expanding its aerial refueling capabilities. The expansion also brings about 200 more Air Force personnel to the base. This comes after a decade-long effort by Senator Dan Sullivan to secure more support for Alaska's growing military presence.

Why it matters

The added refueling assets strengthen military readiness in Alaska as the state continues to play a larger role in U.S. operations in the Arctic and North Pacific. The expansion is also linked to increased activity by Russia and China near Alaska's airspace and waters.

The details

The four new KC-135 tankers will join the eight existing tankers operated by the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing at Eielson. The Air Force had announced plans to add the four tankers in March 2021, but the timeline slipped due to a series of delays. Senator Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, continued pressing Pentagon and Air Force leaders to follow through on the commitment.

  • The Air Force announced plans to add four KC-135s to Eielson in March 2021.
  • The four new tankers were originally scheduled to arrive in fiscal year 2023.
  • Senator Sullivan's efforts to secure the tankers began soon after he entered the Senate in 2015.

The players

Senator Dan Sullivan

A Republican senator from Alaska and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who has been pushing for years to increase refueling capacity at Eielson Air Force Base.

Eielson Air Force Base

An Air Force base in Alaska that is home to more than 100 fifth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-22s and F-35As.

Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing

The unit that operates the existing eight KC-135 tankers at Eielson Air Force Base.

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What they’re saying

“The added refueling assets strengthen military readiness in the state as Alaska continues to play a larger role in U.S. operations in the Arctic and North Pacific.”

— Senator Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska

What’s next

The additional tankers and personnel are expected to be fully integrated at Eielson Air Force Base in the coming months.

The takeaway

This military expansion at Eielson Air Force Base underscores Alaska's growing strategic importance in the Arctic and North Pacific regions, as the state continues to host an increasing number of advanced fighter aircraft and refueling capabilities to support U.S. operations in the area.