Forbes
Date: Jul 18, 2020
By: David Axe, Contributor
An F-15C Eagle aircraft with the 44th Fighter Squadron approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron to begin an inflight refueling procedure March 21, 2016, off the coast of Japan. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/SENIOR AIRMAN PETER REFT
If the invasion drags out more than a few days, U.S. forces could intervene. And if that happens, the Chinese military could find itself at a major disadvantage for one simple reason.
The U.S. Air Force and Navy have tankers and catapults. The Chinese air force and navy don’t.
Aerial-refueling tankers help to extend the range of American fighters, while catapults allow carrier-launched U.S. fighters to take off with full loads of weapons and fuel. [FULL STORY]
