McConnell concludes nuclear operational readiness inspection

From May 13 to 20, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing carried out a Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspection at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

Inspectors from Air Mobility Command, Air Force Reserve Command, U.S. Strategic Command and McConnell evaluated the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and its Reserve associate unit, the 931st Air Refueling Wing, on the readiness of the KC-46A Pegasus to support the nuclear mission.

That mission, when directed, is to generate and provide air refueling aircraft and aircrews to conduct air refueling of U.S. Strategic Command-assigned strategic bomber and command-and-control aircraft.

“Our single most important priority is supporting the nuclear mission. Strategic deterrence is delivered through our air refueling capabilities,” said Col. Joe Wall, 22nd ARW commander.

For decades, the KC-135 Stratotanker has served as the backbone of Air Mobility Command’s air refueling capabilities, extending global reach and strike for conventional operations while remaining prepared for the nuclear mission.

McConnell became the first operational base to receive KC-46s in 2019 and has since operated as a dual-tanker installation, sustaining KC-135 taskings while using that expertise to build the KC-46 enterprise. The base has long supported nuclear readiness with the KC-135 and has applied that knowledge to preparing the KC-46 for rapid global mobility, global reach and global strike mission sets, including the nuclear role.

“You are a well-oiled machine, and everyone here is a part of that machine,” Wall told the wing prior to the NORI. “So as we’ve done for the past several years, you’re going to break new ground with the KC-46. It is rare during one’s operational career to bring a new weapons system online, and you’re making history during this NORI as we continue building the KC-46 enterprise.”

The effort began with a Combat Readiness Inspection, a rigorous assessment of the wing’s ability to prepare forces for deployment, run personnel and cargo deployment functions, meet readiness and training requirements, and deploy to perform wartime missions.

Inspectors then transitioned to the Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspection phase, reviewing command and control, operations, maintenance, servicing, documentation, security, Airmen compliance and nuclear operations support related to the KC-46, as well as adherence to the security, safety and reliability standards of the nuclear mission.

The nuclear triad is foundational to national strategic deterrence, underwriting diplomacy and global military operations. Air Mobility Command tankers are essential to the nuclear mission, and the KC-46 fleet will further strengthen these capabilities.