IDK, in the campaign (as with real life), given how small the theater is, wouldn't it make sense to have the AWACS just RTB as opposed to risking aerial refueling?
Figure the AWACS probably won't burn a lot of gas getting on station, as it's launching in theater already. It would be different if the campaign started in "door kicker" mode, with first day activities being to establish in-theater air bases (eg. Afghanistan), where larger birds like AWACS had to be stationed further away.
Heck, looking at the map, you could possibly deploy some of these in the pattern at the more forward airbases. Once it's bingo (and since it's just cruising around the block, that's gonna take a LONG time), send another AWACS up.
Figure tanker gas is pretty expensive too, and that's less airborne fuel for thirsty F-16's.
Finally, Tanker+AWACS = a REALLY juicy target; worth having a few migs risk burning across the forward lines to hit.
Maybe if the USAF felt they were too big a target on the ground, they would station them out of theater, and have them 'commute' to work? Even then, I'd still think it more economical and safe to just have the out of theater birds land at an in theater AB, do a quick refuel turn-around, and head out to the fight.
Don't get me wrong, it's a really neat feature, but it's applicability seems limited.
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