The ministry announced from its tweeter account that the aircraft with new features returned to Turkey. The entire fleet is expected to be modernised as KC-135R Blok 45.

Even though Turkish Stratotankers gets modernised, their capacity requires new aircraft. Turkey is negotiating with Airbus Defence & Space to have A330 MRTT aircraft.

The aircraft was retired from US Air Force in 1993. Following an upgrade, they were delivered to the TurAF until 1998.