[Erik Latranyi]

I’m waiting for Obama to offer the Russians a chance to get in on our tanker deal.......

[Pecos]

My guess is that since Boeing is now a Chicago-based company, the White house will offer Boeing tankers to Russia at a discount.

[El Gato]

Russia has interior lines of communication. Even without tankers, they can move aircraft by the simple expedient of landing to refuel. They have no need to cross large bodies of water. The only exceptions involve possible need to overfly the 'stans, rather than land to refuel. This could occur in several possible scenarios.

However there are other uses of aerial refueling of tactical aircraft, such as increasing weapons loadout, by taking off with minimal fuel. Also provision of "on station" aircraft whose endurance on station is increased by aerial refueling. I suspect these "tactical" considerations are the real reason they wish to acquire more tankers.

I'm sure Airbuss and with approval by the Obama administration, Boeing, would be happy to supply them.