Expansion of air refueler fleet

(a) Primary mission aircraft inventory Notwithstanding any limit on primary mission aircraft inventory established before the date of the enactment of this Act, Secretary of the Air Force shall retain operational KC–135 Stratotankers as primary mission aircraft inventory as such aircraft are replaced by KC–46 aircraft in order to meet air refueling requirements of the Air Force and the United States Transportation Command. (b) Reassignment (1) In general The Secretary of the Air Force shall reassign KC–135 Stratotankers that are retained as primary mission aircraft inventory and replaced by KC–46 aircraft to Air Refueling Wings that have the capacity to expand their primary mission aircraft inventory fleet of KC–135 Stratotankers. (2) Criteria The Secretary of the Air Force shall reassign KC–135 Stratotankers under paragraph (1) based on the ability of an Air Refueling Wing to— (A) man the additional aircraft; and (B) support pilot training requirements.