空中加油机是冷战后英国皇家空军在海湾和巴尔干地区执行作战任务取得胜利的重要因素,然而皇家空军现役老化的空中加油机已经无法承担起空军未来的远程作战需求。正是在这种背景下,英国皇家空军提出了“未来战略加油机”发展计划。新的未来战略加油机将在2008年之后陆续服役,并逐步取代现役的VC-10和L-1011“三星”空中加油机,在21世纪上半世纪为皇家空军提供前线空中加油和空中运输的能力。 Air tankers were an important factor in the RAF’s successful combat mission in the Gulf and the Balkans after the Cold War. However, the RAF’s active aging tanker could no longer afford the Air Force’s future long-range operational needs. It is in this context, the Royal Air Force proposed the “future strategic tanker” development plan. The new future strategic tanker will be in service after 2008 and gradually replace the active VC-10 and L-1011 “Samsung” tanker aircraft to provide the RAF with front-line aerial refueling and air transport in the first half of the 21st century ability.