CARSON CITY, Nev., May 21 (UPI) -- Tactical Air Defense Services has leased four supertanker aircraft from Air Support Systems in a move to address the U.S. military's air refueling needs.
U.S. company TADS and Air Support Systems have reached an exclusive leasing deal for the use of two Russian Ilyushin IL-78 and two Ilyushin IL-76 supertanker aircraft.
The leasing of the supertankers is part of an effort by TADS to expand its presence in the air-to-air refueling services market supporting the U.S. military among other U.S. allied militaries. The Ilyushin IL-78 is capable of refueling three aircraft at the same time.
TADS says its will also offer the supertankers for aerial fire-fighting services and disaster relief operations which officials say the Ilyushin Il-76 is specifically designed to support.
"We believe our exclusive ability to lease these specialty Russian aircraft will help TADS to capture a significant portion of the rapidly growing sectors of outsourced military aviation services, aerial fire-fighting, and oil-spill containment services," Alexis Korybut, TADS chief executive officer, said in a statement.
