Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023

To require the Secretary of the Air Force to provide training to members of the air force of Israel on the operation of KC–46 aircraft, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023 2. Training Israeli pilots to operate KC–46 aircraft (a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall— (1) make available sufficient resources and accommodations within the United States to train members of the air force of Israel on the operation of KC–46 aircraft; and (2) conduct training for members of the air force of Israel, including— (A) training for pilots and crew on the operation of the KC–46 aircraft in accordance with standards considered sufficient to conduct coalition operations of the United States Air Force and the air force of Israel; and (B) training for ground personnel on the maintenance and sustainment requirements of the KC–46 aircraft considered sufficient for such operations. (b) United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program The Secretary of Defense shall, with respect to members of the air force of Israel associated with the operation of KC–46 aircraft— (1) before the completion of the training required by subsection (a)(2), authorize the participation of such members of the air force of Israel in the United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program; (2) make the United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program available to such members of the air force of Israel; and (3) to the extent practicable, ensure that such members of the air force of Israel may participate in the United States Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program immediately after such members complete such training. (c) Termination This section shall cease to have effect on the date that is ten years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Forward deployment of United States KC–46 aircraft to Israel (a) Report Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that describes the capacity of and requirements for the United States Air Force to forward deploy KC–46 aircraft to Israel on a rotational basis until the date on which not fewer than four KC–46 aircraft procured by the military forces of Israel are commissioned into such military forces and achieve full combat capability. (b) Rotational forces (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense shall rotationally deploy one or more KC–46 aircraft to Israel until the earlier of— (A) the date on which a KC–46 aircraft procured by the military forces of Israel is commissioned into such military forces and achieves full combat capability; or (B) five years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Description The one or more KC–46 aircraft deployed under paragraph (1)— (A) may vary in size and number, as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate; and (B) beginning in the year that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and in each year thereafter until the applicable date described in that paragraph, shall remain in Israel for a period not less than 270 days.

Summary: Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD), particularly the Department of the Air Force, to provide certain training and support to the air force of Israel. Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Air Force to train members of the air force of Israel on (1) the operation of the KC-46 aircraft, and (2) maintenance and sustainment requirements of the KC-46 aircraft. Before completing the training required by this bill, DOD must authorize members of the air force of Israel who are associated with the operation of KC-46 aircraft to participate in the U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program. DOD must make the program available to such members of the air force of Israel and ensure that they may participate immediately after completing training. DOD must rotationally deploy one or more KC-46 aircraft to Israel until the earlier of five years after the enactment of this bill or the date on which a KC-46 aircraft procured by the military forces of Israel is commissioned into such military forces and achieves full combat capability.